2 of 2

Also, the doctor told me if I kept throwing up on purpose, I would ruin my voice. Once I heard that, it was like I'd rather sing and be chubby than be skinny and not sing. And then I dumped the guy.

So, you realized he was part of the problem?

Grant: I think it was one of those moments like the light bulb came on. I just woke up one day and I was like, This is not what God intended for my life. He did not intend for me to marry somebody who wouldn't even sit in the room when I was singing in church because he hated me being in public and on stage. That night, [the vocal group] Truth came in concert in my home church in Seattle. I looked at that stage and I thought, I'm going to audition, and I'm going to get on that tour bus and go sing with them. I auditioned, and I made it. I told my fiancé, "I can't marry you because it is not what God intended for my life." And I got on that bus, and my life absolutely changed from that moment. I traveled with Truth for two years, and God used that to change my whole direction in life.

Did you ever struggle with your eating disorder again?

Grant: Yes, even though I've never done it again. It's like I'm talking about an alcoholic, in the sense that I don't think you're ever fully delivered from that. I don't struggle with doing it at all, because I've matured past that, with the help of the Lord and my family and others. But I don't think I'm ever going to be one of those people who says, "God fully delivered me and now life is awesome and I don't ever even think about it," because that's not honest. Honestly, there's always that thought in your mind that says, "Gosh, it would be easy to lose five pounds for my next photo shoot." But I don't do it. I don't give in.

What has God taught you through all this?

Grant: The first thing is that it's important to base our self-image in the Word of God. There are many Scriptures that tell us to focus on our inward beauty.

I saw something on MTV one time when they asked Usher what men think is sexy in a woman. They asked him, "What do you think is the sexiest thing a woman can wear?" And he said, "Confidence." That blew my mind, because I expected him to say something about skimpy clothes or about a woman's body. But he talked about how confidence affects everything else. And that's so true. For me, that confidence comes through knowing Christ and what he has created me to be. Self-assurance doesn't come from being arrogant or thinking I've got life figured out. It comes from truly understanding who I am as a child of the king.

To read more about Natalie Grant visit her artist page, where you will also find previous interviews and reviews of her albums, including her latest, Deeper Life. You can listen to song clips and purchase Natalie's music at ChristianBook.com.

first page |  2 of 2