Today [March 24] Christian singer/songwriter and morning drive-time radio host Perry LaHaie releases his new single, “Crashed Into Grace,” from Frontiers USA, an international community of people dedicated to inviting Muslims worldwide to follow Jesus. The single is co-produced by Nashville veteran Stephen Leiweke (Jars of Clay, Chris Tomlin, Yancy, Point of Grace, Cindy Morgan, Chris Sligh) and emerging producer Jake DeJarnett.
The song, a mix of acoustic rock and Americana that has been described as “Chris Renzema meets Zach Williams meets Drew Holcomb,” was inspired by a spiritually transformative experience LaHaie had growing up.
“As a teenager, I was wounded deeply by shame from pursuing my own selfish desires,” says LaHaie. “Although I started following Jesus at 10 and experienced an amazing filling of the Holy Spirit at 16, these wounds of shame were poisoning me.”
Then, when he was 18, LaHaie was playing pick-up basketball at the rec center in Cheboygan, Michigan, where he grew up, when he went for a rebound and collided with another player, seriously injuring his ankle. Friends carried him home, and as he lay on the couch in excruciating pain, LaHaie asked his mother to pray for him. Instantly, he felt a warmth in his ankle and the pain went away. “What amazed me most,” he says, “was that Jesus would heal me knowing every dark secret of my life. He touched the shame in my heart and began healing it.”
“Never in my life did I expect grace,” LaHaie continues. “But He was just waiting for me to reach my worst. That’s when He crashed into me.”
LaHaie has always wanted to write a song about that experience. He began in 2017 and finished in 2022, calling it “Crashed Into Grace.”
Crashed Into Grace Lyrics
I was running hard, running fast, running in the night
I was out of control, out of my mind, I was completely blind
I was loving sin, hating it, I surely was the devil’s slave
Way out of my lane, when I saw your face, I knew it was too late
Crashed into grace, and it blew me away
Crashed into grace, like a life wrecking wave
A crash and a cry that ended my life
Then from death I was raised
Crashed into grace
You were running hard, running fast, running right at me
A river, a flood, a furious love, like a raging sea
I was such a wicked mess, just the kind you came to save
Jеsus right in the way, shouting my name, I saw your shining face
Whеn you brought me back to life, you we’re kneeling by my side
Saw the passion in your eyes, scars in your hands
You said, “come and follow me, I’ve loved you from eternity
And I’m filling you now to heal, restore and cleanse”
Crashed into grace, the most beautiful face
Crashed into grace, you bore the filth of my shame
A spear in your side, your life for mine
Then you trampled the grave
Crashed into grace, you blew me away
Crashed into grace, like a life wrecking wave
A crash and a cry, the night that I died
But now forever I’m safe
Crashed into grace
But from death I am raised
Crashed into grace
Now forever I’m safe!
I see you running hard running fast, running in the night
