For nearly ten years, soulful singer/songwriter Beckah Shae’s been steadily gaining momentum, establishing her very own Shae Shoc Records with her husband/constant production collaborator Jack Shocklee and turning in ten studio CDs. Along the way, she’s racked up top 10 Billboard Christian CHR radio singles like “I’ll Be Alright”, “Here In This Moment” and “LIFE,” scored a Dove nomination for the latter gem, served as a featured guest on tobyMac’s Billboard blockbuster Tonight album, collaborated with fellow multi-million album seller Montell Jordan on his latest Victory World Music project Shake Heaven and is also gearing up for two appearances on Dove Award winning rap luminary T-Bone’s upcoming album. Most recently she was “We Love Christmas Music Awards” Independent Artist of the Year and her Christmas album “Let It Snow” won the JFH Award for Christmas Album of the Year.
“My parents divorced when I was very young, so I come from a broken home,” shares Shae of a complex back story to becoming a champion. “I walked through many challenging times with my mom, including abusive remarriages, being very poor and spending a lot of time in other people’s homes including battered women’s shelters. Alongside all of that, I suffered a lot of insecurities and went through a season of eating disorders, but even amidst it all, I always knew God was with me and for me.”
In spite of her circumstances, Shae had a supernatural encounter with the Lord at a very young age that she believes planted deep-rooted beliefs beyond verbal explanation. She also credits her devoutly faithful mother, who comes from a strong Jewish family but nonetheless converted from Judaism, and in turn, introduced her daughter to Jesus. It’s a faith and heritage the singer/songwriter always clung to even during her tumultuous teens, but it wasn’t until she found herself at her lowest, darkest place in humility and brokenness before the Lord in her early 20s that she surrendered her life completely and was delivered entirely from her personal demons and toxic environments.
“My mom introduced me to Jesus- she’s my champion as far as that is concerned- and through her humility, grace and love, I saw God’s faithfulness first hand,” she recalls. “I was never personally abused physically or sexually at all, which is an absolute miracle with all that was going around me growing up. Those years allowed me to see Jesus as my savior, protector, provider, best friend, comforter and counselor, which really established who I am today.”
As Shae transferred all of those emotions into her song writing, she’s happy to report that besides being happily married to the immensely ingenious Jack Shocklee, they also have three beautiful children (Joy, Grace and Hope) and she’s now walking in complete freedom from the anxiety and bulimia that plagued her younger years. Even a single spin of every song indicates just how vulnerable but concurrently hopeful she’s willing to dig into her songwriting, always striving to channel those previous challenges into a means of present day healing for strugglers of any stripe.
“I’ve walked through a season of defeat, but now I’m walking in victory,” Shae proudly proclaims. “Seeing yourself the way God sees you is the beginning of that freedom and that idea comes through in the theme of every song I write. Since we were poor and were always moving around, I had to start over and meet new friends every time. With each adjustment period, I always felt misunderstood, misjudged and like people always had their own assumptions about me. Progress has been slow, but I've stayed persistent and consistent in being faithful to God and this is what He’s done. I’m super passionate about helping others see themselves the way God sees them, no matter what season of difficulty they’re going through. I want them to listen to this and not just see from my life’s example of God’s healing capabilities, but for them to be inspired, encouraged and come to know God intimately, choose the incorruptible, be invincible, see the invisible, and do the impossible.”
Shae lives this out in tangible ways through her work with ministries like Kids Alive, an organization that rescues abandoned and orphaned children; and the A21 campaign, which creates awareness and demands justice for victims of human trafficking.
Shae says of the winding road she has traveled, “I know God’s allowed me to endure all the things I’ve gone through in life just to know Him better and develop a true compassion and genuine love for people. I’m on a mission to dive deeper into the heart of God, and I’m committed to sharing the truth and treasures I find while I’m in there! I am just one voice rising up to proclaim God’s truth and power for such a time as this. A great and terrible day is at hand, and it is my desire that through songs of victory, we will usher revelation and courage to those who are hungry, thirsty and willing to follow the narrow road.”