Aaron Shust

Morning Rises
Centricity Music

Many have characterized Aaron Shust’s new album, “Morning Rises,” as downright celebratory. I can’t disagree.

The Shusts have seen heartbreak and miracles over the last few years. Their second son Nicky became extremely ill as an infant at the same time their third child Michael was born with a serious heart defect and Down syndrome and was later diagnosed as completely deaf. Shust says of Michael’s birth, “It was just a long day, quite literally and emotionally. When the sun rose on the 14th there was that ray of hope. It was a new day. The sun is rising and God’s mercies are new.”

God wasn’t finished. Nicky has been healed of the disease that almost took his life, and Michael’s deafness was miraculously and completely healed. It seems that hope and promise spilled over into this album. Shust starts the album with Hillsong’s “Cornerstone,” laying the record’s foundation of faith and celebrating God’s sovereignty.

Shust’s vocals on the record are unusually powerful. You can feel his joy and emotion on every song. That kind of emotional investment in the songs is what makes a great record. With “Morning Rises,” Shust has made a powerful statement about faith, hope and promise, and a great record is the result.