Integrity Music
Release Date: April 24th 2020
Reviewed by: Joshua Andre
Sarah Kroger– Standing In Your Light (Single) (Amazon mp3/iTunes)
Track Listing:
- Standing In Your Light
One of the recent signings to Integrity Music, Nashville based Catholic worship leader Sarah Kroger quietly made a name for herself in the worship market with the soothing, contemplative and reflective debut album Bloom, released in 2019. With these tracks being introspective and ballad-y in nature, we were presented with lullaby-ish melodies that we intended to review for the site, but didn’t for one reason or another. Yet now Sarah is back with a brand new single- 3 minute pop/worship tune “Standing In Your Light”- and we aren’t making the mistake of overlooking her songs ever again!
I’ve briefly listened to Bloom this year, and I reckon this album was one of the albums I wish I reviewed. It was thought-provoking, comforting and confronting- all at the same time. And though with this single it’s a great departure musically for Sarah- I reckon that “Standing In Your Light”, though lyrically cliché at times, is equally as thought-provoking, comforting and confronting, as we are presented with the simple yet ever-true notion that ‘…there is no fear when I am standing in Your light, made me a promise, You are always by my side, my hands are lifted to the One who changed my life, I’m only free when I am standing in Your light…’. Musically there’s dance, pop and EDM present for the Sunday morning worship enthusiast; but for fans of Bloom, you may be shocked and surprised and may completely shun Sarah now for ‘selling out’. Yet my advice for those listeners would be to just wait until the next album releases- the worship album Light to be released sometime this year. Artists may evolve with their music genres, or even experiment with other genres before returning to their roots- however I reckon 9 times out of 10, their convictions, values, morals and beliefs never waver, and Sarah’s convictions are with Jesus.
This summertime anthem is a song that gives people hope in every season. The lyrics describe what I hope to see as I look out at the people of God standing in His light, unashamed, and full of faith…even in a time of pandemic and quarantine, believers all over the world are still putting his love on display and sharing the light of Christ with their communities through evangelism, service, and self-sacrifice. It’s my hope that this song encourages people to leave behind the darkness and bring all of themselves into the light so God can continue to transform us and send us out. Standing in the light of Christ we have everything we need. ‘For with You is the fountain of life; In your light we see light.’ Psalm 36:9. There’s nothing more that I need to say about Sarah Kroger’s pop single. I’m a lover of all things CCM, so even though this song is cliché at times, “Standing In Your Light” still pulls at my emotions and heart strings, as I am drawn into the love and light of Jesus Christ. So as we wait for Sarah’s sophomore album, let us revel in His presence by jamming out to Sarah’s radio friendly track. And if you don’t like the song, I’d say try again. Because I am certain that through the process of repetition of listening, you will find something you love about Sarah’s new song! Well done Sarah, I can’t wait to hear what God has in store for you next!
Score: 4/5
RIYL: Francesa Battistelli, TobyMac, Matthew West, Building 429, Love & The Outcome, I Am They