Interview with a Rock Princess on True Love: Lacey Sturm (Formally of Flyleaf)
Lacey Sturm…you probably know who she is but just in case you don’t, she co-founded the rock band, Flyleaf, and was their lead singer for 10 years until going solo. Now she has debuted her solo project, Life Screams.
But I’m really here to tell you about her deep and personal memoir that was just released this month, The Mystery: Finding True Love in a World of Broken Lovers. I got the privilege of reading her book and interviewing her about it. She was a sweetheart during our interview and really poured out her heart.
She has had her struggles and she is not afraid to talk about them! She wants others to learn from her experiences and she wants to help people! I haven’t met too many rock princesses but I doubt many of them would be willing to be so vulnerable and share such personal experiences in order to help others.
In her book, Lacey talks about orphan identity. Lacey grew up fatherless, and so her perspective of who and what a father is, was based on her not having a father and also observing other fathers who had neglected, abused, or abandoned their daughters. In her book, Lacey wrote: “My orphan heart thought to be loved by someone was for them to save me. I didn’t understand that the only person who can save me is God. My orphan heart thought love was to complete someone else and to be completed by them. I didn’t understand that when two people who aren’t whole try to complete each other they both end up with less than when they started. I didn’t understand that the only one who can make a person whole is God.”
Lacey talked more about this orphan identity in our interview (by the way, I’ve been cut out of the video feed because…if we are being real here…we all just really want to see Lacey, don’t we!?!):
As Lacey says, with an orphan mindset, you feel like a burden on others. You don’t want to burden anyone with your problems so you don’t reach out for help or accept help when it’s offered. We (people in general) have an innate need for community with other people. Our society teaches us to be independent and to make it on our own, but in truth, we need each other. We need someone in our corner…friends or family to be “our people.” We need them to support us, to encourage us when we are down, to celebrate with us when things are good, to listen when we need to talk, to give us wisdom when we don’t see clearly. So, don’t be afraid to make deep connections with people. Don’t be afraid to reach out for help when you are struggling because you aren’t meant to carry your burdens alone.
Lacey Sturm is a supporter of TheHopeLine!!
Lacey talked about being purposeful with your heart, emotions, and displays of love in her book and in our interview. She points out that if you aren’t purposeful then you risk falling in and out of love, over and over, according to your circumstances, whims, and ignorance. She explains how to be purposeful with your heart:
Lacey says, “There are boundaries for knowing when it’s safe to let your emotions lead you and when it’s time for you to lead them.”
Two of the boundaries she set up for herself to be purposeful with her heart was:
1. Have people in her life who loved her and have people she would listen to no matter what, especially when it came to wisdom regarding relationships.
2. And she wrote down a vision of what she wanted in a husband.
Then she took her vision to God and asked Him to help her so that she would listen when God said, “Not yet,” or "No,” and that way she would know the relationship was safe and she wasn’t just manipulating the situation or tricking herself into thinking it’s good, like she’s done in the past and then been hurt by it.
The one thing Lacey wants someone to take away from reading her book is:
“God is the true love that we are always searching for. And everything that we find that makes our hearts come to life is actually a reflection of who He is. This world is just a shadow of His love for us and so when we get infatuated with some part of His creation, we have to recognize that there is an artist behind it. And when we put all of our stock in a person or anything—a talent, a gift, a calling, something in nature, something beautiful, art—then all of a sudden we’ve stopped short of what we’re going after and that thing will always let us down, if we make it out to be God before we get to God himself. He is the only one who can be God for us.”
In her book, she shares raw, honest, and personal stories that will give you insight into not only her life but your own as well. She also has these letters dispersed throughout the book called, Hero Notes. She has people; such as, Evan Tachoir, Brian Welch, Stephana Mosely, Joshua Sturm, Korey Cooper, and many more. They each write a letter to ‘the reader’ with words of encouragement and wisdom they have learned through their experiences. There is some really good stuff in there!
Connect with Lacey Sturm:
https://www.laceysturm.com/
https://twitter.com/LaceySturm
https://www.instagram.com/officiallaceysturm/
https://www.youtube.com/user/LaceySturm81
I really love Lacey's work as an artist and a human being. I've followed her since she was a part of Flyeaf and I've been so happy to see her accomplishments! It's really inspiring and heart warming! It'd be great to read her second book!
I've struggled with clinical depression since I was 12. I've attempted suicide. I've felt like a complete misfit. After reading Lacey's first book, "The Reason", I knew this woman was a force to be reckoned with. As someone who struggles with depression, I do wonder if a genuine, Godly love is even real for me. I can't imagine someone wanting to carry my troubles along side me. I think Lacey's guidance is exactly what I need.
I love flyleaf, and I especially love Lacey! She gives hope and talks about those things that are hard to talk about! Over the summer I shared my testimony at a conference for the first time! Lacey's song the reason had been on replay for me in the weeks leading up to this conference and was also what played when I finished speaking! I am so glad to have this song and all of Laceys other works as a reminder that hooe and love are real! As something to help me focus on God when I am falling apart. I love Lacey and would love to read her book and then go on to share it with others because I already know that it is going to be absolutely amazing!!!
Lacey has been the most influential person in my life. Her story and music has gotten me through some really dark times in my life. I LOVED her first book, The Reason, and I'd love to get my hands on The Mystery. I already know it's going to be incredible. The way she writes and shares her story is so real and so inspiring.
Lacey is such a wonderful example for so many young girls including myself. I read her first book and throughout the whole book it brought tears to my eyes. I love her story and a lot of the things that I struggle with are what she talks about in this book. Love and relationships have always been something that I constantly have a hard time with and it's great to see I'm not the only one who feels this way. She is such an inspiration and honestly helps me through so much. It would be an honor to have her book.