Tori Harper – Joy

Labels: SHOWDOWN
Number of Tracks: 1
Total Time: 3:40
From the Album: Full Album coming 2018
Formats: Christian, Christian CHR, Christian AC, Christian Hot AC
Available Date & Time: August 10, 2017 12:00 PM ET
Impact Date: September 1, 2017
Country: USA

"Your JOY is greater than a thousand sorrows" — We can dance ALL DAY LONG to celebrate this great truth!

"Very rarely do you meet an artist who at a very early age has a deep understanding of God, art and compassion for others- Tori has that rare gift. It comes through in the songs she writes and her voice that is as sweet and pure as it is longing. I am so excited to see what wonderful things will come from Tori’s willingness to use her gifts for the glory of God"
– Cindy Morgan

Tori Harper’s bedroom in her hometown of Franklin, Tenn., is like a glimpse into the singer/songwriter’s soul. Morning light streams in through an arched cathedral window—a daily visual of God’s presence. Plants grow freely from their individual perches around the room—green reminders that life is in full bloom. Handwritten Scripture fills up every square inch of her mirror. It’s a cozy, vibrant environment where songs can be birthed and a heart can be nurtured along the way.

"I love those reminders for myself," Tori says. "You look at the mirror every day, so I write the truth on my mirror; but also, I put it in my songs. That’s something really key to who I am."

While her bedroom is often the backdrop for her creativity, Tori says the key ingredient in her songwriting—and in life—is intentionally replacing the lies in her head with God’s truth. "It can be difficult for someone who’s not in the Word every day to remember what God promises us about our circumstances," she offers. "Through the good and through the bad, He’s with us… He’s not promising that we’re not going to have trials or we’re not going to have issues, but He does promise that He’s going to be with us right through those things; and in the end, He’s going to use that somehow for good and for His glory."

Tori experienced this firsthand when God rescued her from a season of depression. "I just felt alone, like no one saw me—but, especially, I felt like God didn’t see me," she admits. "I knew He existed, and I believed He was working in other people’s lives. I just felt like I’d come to this place where He didn’t really want to have anything to do with my life."

On what Tori thought would be her last Sunday at church, during worship, the woman sitting beside her leaned over and whispered, "I just felt like God wanted me to tell you that He sees you." Unbeknownst to the woman, it was a direct answer to prayer for Tori and the lifeline she needed. That day, Tori recommitted her life to Christ.

"It wasn’t until that turning point that I really started to understand who God was," she reflects. "He’s all-powerful and He’s holy, but He’s also intimate and He’s kind and He’s compassionate and He’s in the details."

As Tori began to see herself the way God sees her, she also became more aware of how other people see themselves and how it often conflicts with God’s view of His children. As God began to reveal more of Himself to Tori, and she began to firmly root her identity in Christ, she began to more acutely notice other people’s heartache. "I started to understand that a lot more people were struggling than I realized," she says. For Tori, songwriting has become a way to respond to people’s hurt from a place of deep authenticity and relatability and to remind listeners—and herself—what God says about certain situations, despite how we may feel.

"JOY" is declaration of truth that the joy of the Lord is greater than a thousand sorrows and His love conquers all.

Add date: September 1, 2017