Struggling Songwriter’s Life-Changing God Encounter Becomes Award-Winning Worship Anthem

Quick Smiles:

• Jessie Villa won a Christian Song Contest grand prize for her first-ever worship song, “Yours,” born from a profound spiritual awakening during her darkest season
• The prize includes $5,000, professional mentorship, studio mastering, and a premium guitar to replace one stolen years ago
• Villa’s testimony-driven music releases throughout 2026 after five years of prayerful preparation

Jessie Villa’s journey from personal crisis to award-winning worship artist is a testament to God’s perfect timing and transforming love. Her song “Yours” has captured the grand prize in a national Christian Song Contest, and the story behind it will restore your faith in divine redemption.

Villa wrote “Yours” as her very first worship track, part of her project Consider the Lilies. But the song didn’t come from a place of comfort—it emerged from one of the most challenging seasons of her life.

“I was not doing well a few years ago and I had an encounter with God that absolutely changed my life,” Villa shared.

“In that time, I experienced the love and faithfulness of God like I never had before. I went through one of the toughest, most beautiful times of my life and through loss, struggle, and identity crisis I saw that God was holding me, showing up with so much tenderness, and calling me to trust Him.”

That divine encounter opened Villa’s eyes to a love she’d never fully comprehended before.

“I could not comprehend the magnitude of His love and character, His grace and glory, His endless pursuit of us,” she continued.

“There was a kindness I’d never known, the truest form of love, freedom and joy. It wrecks me constantly, we are so loved.”

Through her darkest valley, Villa discovered her true identity—not in circumstances or achievements, but in Christ’s unwavering love for her.

“I just really want people to know that there is a perfect and loving God waiting for us to see His loving hand in everything, in His son Jesus, and to know how valuable we are to Him,” she said.

“This song is my heart’s realization of all of this.”

Villa’s musical roots run deep. Raised in a home filled with everything from Vince Gill to Amy Grant, she’s been writing songs since she could barely talk.

“We have home movies where I’m making up songs about my dad, serenading him at the dinner table at three years old,” she recalled with warmth.

Her father gave her a small guitar at age four and taught her the chords to “Carolina in My Mind.” Through countless moves and transitions throughout childhood, songwriting remained her constant companion.

When Villa entered the Christian Song Contest, she had modest expectations. She simply hoped one person might connect with her testimony through “Yours.”

Winning the grand prize—which includes $5,000, an A&R mentorship with industry veteran Scott Graves, professional mixing and mastering, and a premium guitar—has been a faith-affirming confirmation.

“It is such an encouragement to me to keep writing and sharing my music,” Villa said.

“To me, it means that the testimony in this song is not just for me, that other people connect with the spirit of the song. I take it as a wink that I am on the right path in sharing what God has done in my life through song.”

The new guitar holds special significance. Years ago, Villa’s beloved Taylor guitar was stolen during a move, leaving what she describes as “a guitar shaped hole in my heart.”

Now, as she’s deepened her guitar skills and prepared to release five years of recorded music, the timing couldn’t be more perfect.

Villa plans to invest much of her prize money back into her music projects. Her first EP for Consider the Lilies releases in fall 2026, followed by a genre-makeover collection of country-folk songs under her main artist project.

“I have five years worth of music that I’ve been recording with my friend, Shawn Williams, and preparing to release,” Villa explained.

Her biggest career dream? Simply to keep creating music that draws people into God’s heart.

“Most of all, I want to keep writing songs that invite people into encountering the heart of God and what’s available through life with Jesus,” she said.

“If one person is drawn to the love of God through my music, then it’s worth sharing!”

For other artists considering entering similar contests, Villa’s advice is simple and encouraging.

“Do it! You have nothing to lose and you get to follow along with the other music that was entered. And no matter what, keep writing and sharing your God given talents. The world needs it and you never know what could happen!”

From personal crisis to creative breakthrough, Jessie Villa’s story reminds us that God wastes nothing—not our struggles, not our talents, and certainly not our testimonies when we offer them back to Him.

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