Initially released on Sarah Kroger’s sophomore album, ‘Light’, during the peak of a global healthcare crisis, ‘Belovedness’ found a beautiful following for those battling with mental health challenges. From a barn turned studio nestled in the countryside bordering London, UK, the revisited live version of this song captures the intimate settings of its recording.

This collaboration with Northern Irish singer-songwriter Nathan Jess offers listeners a version that oozes with sweetness, truth, and a message of healing hope.

“This song feels like it comes from the Father’s heart, so having a male vocalist on it this time around felt important to me,” Kroger comments. While reading Henri Nouwen’s book ‘Life of The Beloved’, the artist realized that she was only owning her mistakes instead living out of her belovedness. The powerfully soothing ballad was born from her journey of owning the truth of her identity as a child of God, and inviting others to join in.

“I think identity is a universal, multigenerational struggle” Kroger says. “Ever since this song released 2 years ago, I have been absolutely stunned by the response […] my prayer is that this song can continue to be a healing balm for those who have allowed the lies to tell them who they are,” she continues. ‘Belovedness’ is a song that goes beyond the walls of the Church into a world saturated with noise and confusion and invites people on the journey of letting the Truth grow. Sarah Kroger’s standout track is still a source of calm, encouragement, and reassuring rescue to listeners. A safe place to land and unwind, as she concludes: “This is who we are, and it’s literally an instruction: be loved.”

Sarah Kroger

“Belovedness (Live)” is available now.

Sarah Kroger released the official music video for her latest single “Belovedness” which can be viewed below. “Belovedness” was co-written with Michael Farren, Tony Wood, and Ben Shive.

“It was written last year, recorded months ago, and the release date was picked weeks ago. I didn’t post about it then, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure when I would,” Kroger shared on social media when speaking about the message of her new song. “I didn’t want to add to the noise unless it would add to the conversation. Then yesterday, I heard a homily by my friend Fr Mike Schmitz and felt convicted that there’s a message in this song for today. While the song isn’t explicitly about racism, it is about the belovedness that each one of us shares.”

Kroger added, “This song was written as a reminder that beloved is our identity. There is nothing we’ve done, no mistake we’ve made, nothing that’s been done to us that can take that away. But this is not simply so that we can feel good, sit back and receive. Beloved is not just our identity, it’s our instruction. Be loved and be love.”

Watch Official Video

LYRICS

You’ve owned your fear and all your self-loathing
You’ve owned the voices inside of your head
You’ve owned the shame and reproach of your failure
It’s time to own your belovedness

You’ve owned your past and how it’s defined you
You’ve owned ev’rything everybody else says
It’s time to hear what your Father has spoken
It’s time to own your belovedness

He says you’re mine
I smiled when I made you
I find you beautiful in ev’ry way
My love for you is fierce and unending
I’ll come to find you, whatever it takes
My beloved

You’ve owned the mess you see in the mirror
You’ve owned the lies that you’re just not enough
You’re been so blinded by all you’re comparing
It’s time to own your belovedness

You are completely loved and fully known
Beloved, believe He died to make your heart His home

Sarah Kroger releases her new single ‘Belovedness’ via Integrity Music.

The song is a prayer and wake up call for people to hold onto the truth that they are beloved. This is who we are, and it’s literally an instruction: beloved.

Sarah Kroger is a Nashville-based, Catholic worship leader and songwriter whose love for music started at a young age. With parents involved in music ministry, she grew up in a musical home and has been singing in church choirs since she was achild. Sarah has spent the last eight years leading worship for events around the world, drawing together people from a variety cultures and church backgrounds under the banner of Jesus.

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