Reviewed by Stella Redburn

As we all know, Stuart has written some of the most popular of our modern worship songs and hymns ("In Christ Alone") and new material from him has been eagerly awaited. The theme of his new album is "courage to face my own pain, to share my pain and to sit with the pain of others" and the standout track for me is "Keep You Here". It's a beautiful acoustic number and is particularly moving as when it was being recorded with Stuart's family, his brother Phil was dying of cancer. A song of affirmation in a dark place. The title track is Stuart's response to death with powerfully honest, original lyrics and with Celtic touches, courtesy of Keith and Kirsten Getty, who collaborated with the veteran on several of the tracks here. "I Am Here For You" was co-written with daughter Emma and has some heartfelt and beautiful words about living with depression and anxiety. It is sung without affectation by Emma. These intensely personal testimonies are the core of the album and other, more praise-based songs I personally didn't find as strong, although "Lead On, Lead On" is a brave attempt to re-work John Henry Newman's "Lead, Kindly Light" hymn.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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