Christian Music Picks: "It Is Well (Because He Lives)" by Tommee Profitt and Bay Turner

I recently came across a gem on YouTube, and it's not just the vocal quality that made an impact on me.

Producer and songwriter Tommee Profitt released an album in March called "The Resurrection of a King," which features epic versions of a number of classic hymns surrounding the death and resurrection of Jesus. It features vocalists such as Phil Wickham, Stanaj, Anthony Evans, Ben Fuller, and Bay Turner. The album follows Profitt's acclaimed Christmas project "The Birth of a King."

At first listen, without knowing Bay Turner or his backstory, you might simply view his performance of "It Is Well (Because He Lives)" as a beautiful version of the classic hymn. However, the fact that Turner is singing this song so powerfully -- or at all -- is testimony to the goodness of God.

In 2021, Turner, a trained opera singer, was told by doctors that he would never sing again after suffering an injury during surgery to remove two benign tumors in his chest. The anesthesiologist accidentally grazed his vocal cord with the breathing tube while under anesthesia, which paralyzed it.

"[I had] no voice," he recalled to Vision Christian Media. "I thought my life was over."

Turner spent three months completely silent, and during that time, he went through a season of introspection and Christ-spection, where he re-established his identity.

"It hit me in the moment. I have two choices: Either this can ruin my life, and I can feel sorry for myself forever and be a has-been that never got to sing or do anything with my life," he explained to Life FM, "or make a choice [that] I am still worthy as a son of God. I still have value even if I can't sing."

"And I think that perspective shift as it pertains to my identity and my worth was everything for me, and I'm so glad it happened, because had I come to Tennessee and signed a record deal and been able to sing at these cool places, I would have done it for the wrong reasons. It would have been about me," he continued. "And now it's zero percent about me, and it's only ministry for Him."

Turner miraculously regained his voice but had to undergo much training to regain his singing ability. The following year, he appeared on "America's Got Talent," where he told the story of his amazing recovery.

He was featured during Profitt's "Birth of a King" concerts last year, and was invited to sing for Profitt's "Resurrection of a King" project.

In a social media post, Profitt outlined that the pairing of "It Is Well" and "Because He Lives" serves a specific purpose, reminding the listener that even when times are difficult, we can can say "It is well, because He lives."

"It’s the answer. It’s one cohesive thought: It is well, because HE lives," he wrote.

The song, which has been sung by millions -- if not billions -- since it was written by Horatio Spafford and put to music by Philip Bliss in the late 1800s, features a 100-person choir and a 50-piece orchestra, along with Profitt playing the piano. To me, while Turner's soaring vocals are breathtaking, the song rightfully takes the focus off Turner and causes the listener to contemplate the hope we have in Christ.

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!" 1 Peter 1:3 states in the English Standard Version. "According to his great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."

"I could weep," Turner said of the song. "I think being in there with these people truly worshiping and hearing that orchestra, I'm like, 'If this is what we get on this side of Heaven, I can only imagine what God has for us in the next life.'"

I encourage you to listen to this song today and add it to your playlist if you have not done so already.