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Lonely Verse is the fourth entry in the six-album Verse Series under Volant Records, following Anxious Verse, Thankful Verse, and Angry Verse.

Where the earlier volumes explore fear, gratitude, and righteous emotion, Lonely Verse sits inside the quiet ache of solitude — opening the door to raw prayers, soft tears, and the longing of a heart that wonders if anyone sees or stays.

Across fifteen Scripture-centered devotionals, the album moves through the many shapes of loneliness:
darkness that feels overwhelming
silence where support should be
ache formed by early wounds
tears collected by God Himself
distance felt even in crowded rooms
courage found when God stands near
deep rest that only God can give

Each track places the exact Scripture as the Chorus — the anchor — while the verses and bridges explore the emotional shape of loneliness and the comfort of divine presence.
The instrumentation remains gentle and spacious: warm pads, tender piano, and calming ambient textures.

Lonely Verse flows from trembling isolation to quiet resilience, ending with peace and safety.
It accompanies the other Verse albums — Anxious, Thankful, Angry, Sad, and Happy — creating a complete emotional and devotional journey.

Psalm 139:11–12
Isaiah 41:9–10
2 Timothy 4:16–17
Psalm 34:18
Psalm 73:23–24
Psalm 27:10
Psalm 62:5–6
Psalm 118:5–7
Lamentations 3:22–24
Psalm 56:8
John 16:32–33
Psalm 86:6–7
Psalm 55:22
Psalm 4:8

Closer Than My Breath

“Not By My Strength” is a raw, intimate soul ballad that feels like a quiet confession at an open mic. Anchored by a sparse piano and a raspy, vulnerable female vocal, the song wrestles with the exhaustion of self-righteousness and the freedom of divine grace. The verses admit the struggle of trying to be "good enough," while the chorus swells into a gospel-infused realization that salvation is a finished work. Honest, emotional, and deeply grounding, it is a song about laying down the heavy burden of striving and resting in the sufficiency of Christ.

Lyrics

Intro
I tried to climb this mountain on my own
Built my kingdom out of sand and stone

Verse 1
I thought if I could just be good enough
If I could pray more, give more, love more, trust
That maybe then You'd look at me and smile
But I've been running in circles all this while
The harder that I try, the more I fall apart
Your law exposed the darkness in my heart

Pre-Chorus
Then You whispered to my weary soul
It's not your strength that makes you whole

Chorus
It's not by my strength, it's all by Your grace
Not by my works, it's Your finished work at Calvary's place
I can't earn what You freely gave
When I was dead in sin, Your love is what saved
It's not by my strength, never was, never will be
Just Your grace sufficient for me

Verse 2
You didn't wait until I cleaned myself up
You loved me when I was broken, messed up
While I was still a sinner, Christ, You died
Took my judgment, took my sin, took my pride
Now I'm righteous not because of what I've done
But because of the obedience of Your Son

Pre-Chorus
In my weakness, You are strong
Your power's where I belong

Chorus
It's not by my strength, it's all by Your grace
Not by my works, it's Your finished work at Calvary's place
I can't earn what You freely gave
When I was dead in sin, Your love is what saved
It's not by my strength, never was, never will be
Just Your grace sufficient for me

Bridge
The law couldn't save me, only showed me my need
For a Saviour who would bleed
You became my sin so I could be Your righteousness
Not by trying harder, just by saying yes

Bridge
Apart from You I can do nothing at all
But in Christ I'm standing tall
Not because I'm strong but because You are
Your resurrection life has brought me this far

Chorus
It's not by my strength, it's all by Your grace
Not by my works, it's Your finished work at Calvary's place
I can't earn what You freely gave
When I was dead in sin, Your love is what saved
It's not by my strength, it never was mine
It's Your life in me that makes me shine

Outro
Grace upon grace upon grace
All I needed was Your face
Not my strength, just Your grace
Just Your grace

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Sam Hatmaker