Rebecca G. Davis

AFA Journal associate editor

Above, Rebecca St. James with her family

October 2020 – She began her Christian music career at age 16. After nearly 20 years of success in the industry, Rebecca St. James quietly disappeared from the music scene to pour wholeheartedly into her marriage and family. But with that came years of adversity.

Now, at age 42, as a wife and mother of three – ages 6, 2, (and expecting at the time of this interview) – God has clearly called St. James back to music, the dawn of a new season in her life. The music artist recently spoke with AFA Journal about her hiatus and hardships as well as her divine revelation and return to music.

AFA Journal: Tell us about your family and the past several years.
Rebecca St. James: About a year after I retired seven years ago, we had our daughter Gemma.

Then, we had a period of time in our lives that was challenging. I miscarried a couple of times. My husband was going through major vocational transition. It was a kind of a deep winter for us and a lot of pain in that time.

I look back at that season and feel like it was preparation for what I’m doing now. I see that God was allowing some of those challenges and hurdles to come our way because He had a greater purpose in mind.

AFAJ: Music also became very difficult for you. Explain.
RSJ: When I [retired from] music, I was very exhausted and depleted to the level where I was actually having panic attacks surrounding music. Music had become something that just felt quite threatening and really challenging.

AFAJ: What brought you back to music?
RSJ: Three years ago, I did an event in Alaska, and God powerfully called me back to music while I was on stage. God so clearly allowed so much of my pain and my anxiety associated with music to just fall away.

I walked off stage after a couple of worship songs knowing that God had called me to music again and realizing I had missed the connection that I have with the Holy Spirit when I sing. God brought renewal and a spring [season] to my heart.

Things started happening ministry-wise, where opportunities were coming my way to make music.

We moved to Nashville from California … [and experienced] a lot of really beautiful and redemptive change that I’m now singing about on my most recent album, which is called Dawn.

AFAJ: What was it like making your newest album?
RSJ: Anytime I felt vulnerable, I was reminded of what God did and how miraculous it was. It felt kind of like that Saul-to-Paul Damascus experience where scales fell from my eyes and my whole perspective changed in the moment.

AFAJ: How do you hope the album ministers to others?
RSJ: Most of the songs on the project – the genesis of them – happened [last year], when none of us could have had any idea that 2020 was going to look the way it does.

A lot of the songs are related to God’s redemption or trusting Him in the middle of the fire and knowing that this is His fight, and we don’t have to fear. All of these messages are so relevant right now.

This is a worship album that we really pray will be used by the church.   

Coming back with more
Dawn, the new 6-song EP worship album from Rebecca St. James released in July and is available through most digital outlets. Four additional songs will release early next year.

On “Rebecca St. James Friends and Family,” a new weekly podcast, St. James discusses various topics relevant to faith and family. It is accessible online and via podcast platforms.