Country music icon Sara Evans can still remember the first time she realized God had a special calling on her life.
In the summer of 1979, a then 8-year-old Evans decided to cross the busy street in front of her parent’s Missouri home when she was struck by a car, suffering a concussion and nearly losing her leg. After a six-week hospital stint, a series of traumatic medical procedures, and lengthy physical therapy, Evans emerged with a newfound sense of purpose.
“I have always have had a lot of resilience, I think starting from when I got hit by a car when I was eight years old,” the chart-topping singer/songwriter told The Christian Post. “After that, it was like there was a secret understanding between me and God that He had a special purpose for my life. There was a calling on my life, and I just knew that to be true at an early age.”
“God saved me for a reason then, and He saved me time and time again. I've just always felt a special connection with God, not just as my true Father, but also as my best friend, my protector, my comfort. A lot of that came through trauma in my life.”
It’s this mentality that has sustained Evans throughout her storied career, from growing up on a farm in Missouri to becoming one of the most successful female artists of her generation, selling over seven million albums.
“I don’t love organized religion but I love the Lord and I’ve accepted Jesus Christ. I’m saved by grace,” the Nashville-based musician said. “I love sharing Bible verses on my social media pages to offer hope and encouragement. I think people are feeling hopeless and lost right now, and there have been moments in my own life where I’ve said, ‘Lord, you seem very distant. Where are you? I need you.’ And He always shows up. He's never let me down."
This year, the wife and mother celebrated the 20th anniversary of her landmark double-platinum album Born to Fly, released her first solo record in three years titled Copy That, and penned her new memoir Born to Fly. In it, she details her unlikely rise to stardom and challenges she’s faced along the way, from her parents' divorce to a near-fatal plane incident and her struggles with panic and anxiety.
“God’s faithfulness has been a theme throughout my life,” she said.