Since the moment I heard it, I knew it was going to be one of my favorite songs! This song helps you think of every life situation and reminds you that Jesus is there to walk you through it.
The song was written by Zach Williams (“Old Church Choir”, “Chain Breaker”), Casey Beathard (“Like Jesus Does”, “The Boys of Fall”), and Jonathan Smith (“Yes I Will”, “Hills and Valleys”).
Williams says the song serves as a reflection. “Looking back at twenty years ago, where I had no idea God was in the moment.” He adds “looking back now I can see that He (God) had his hand in everything I was doing, he was creating a way and honestly allowing me to live through some of these experiences.”
Williams recalls asking Dolly Parton to be a part of the song by asking his producer about it. “We both kinda laughed and kinda threw it under the rug”, Williams says, “a few weeks later we made a phone call through her manager and she agreed to listen to the song.”
Parton later admitted to Williams, when recording it, she wanted to be a part of the song after only listening to the first verse and half of the chorus.
‘Rescue Story’, the album that featured “There Was Jesus”, was released on October 4, 2019, and also included the title track which became a top-five hit on the Hot Christian and Christian Airplay charts.