From Navy veteran to worship leader, Justin Gambino has never been afraid to let God transform the broken places of his life into a testimony of hope. After years of sharing songs rooted in redemption, the award-winning singer-songwriter is entering a deeply personal new chapter with Garden of the Lord, his first worship EP.
Inspired by his own journey of healing, surrender, and restoration, the project invites listeners to walk with Christ through the "garden of the heart," where neglected wounds become places of renewal and grace. In this exclusive interview, Gambino opens up about the spiritual renovation behind the songs, writing through infertility and unanswered prayers, returning each year to the courthouse where his life changed forever, and why he believes God is still in the business of restoring every broken garden.
To listen/download the new EP, click here.
Q: Garden of the Lord is your first worship project after years of releasing Christian music. What made this the right season to create an album specifically designed to lead people into worship?
At first, I thought these songs were just for me in my own secret place. For nearly a year, I kept them in that space, and to encourage myself before a show in a green room or throughout my day, I'd just sing them out loud. When doors began to open back in 2023 for me to share my testimony publicly, it was definitely a growing pain for me to share a story that I had buried for so long. It felt as if it were a walk in a garden with Him every time I would share. Even the very artwork of this project is a vision I would see in my mind when I would close my eyes to ask Him to help me through a time of sharing.
A "walk in the garden" sounds more like a "walk in the park," but it wasn't. It was a spiritual renovation process, and at times, I feel like it's still ongoing. When my producer, bandmates, and close friends started to tell me that I should record these songs, it felt like the right time to begin the production process. I didn't want to do this without Him; I wanted to be sure that it was exactly what God wanted me to do in this season.
Q: You describe this EP as an invitation for God to walk with you through the "garden of your heart." What were some of the neglected places God asked you to surrender as you were writing these songs?
Some of the parts of my testimony that I buried were the addictions I struggled with during my prodigal years. Pornography. Alcohol. There would be times when I'd be sharing my testimony and the Lord would guide me to visit those areas of my garden, uproot, expose, and bring them to light in a public space. I was hesitant. I had excuses in my mind to not do so. Why do I need to share those things if they aren't things I struggle with currently? But I chose to be obedient in those moments, and I saw how God worked every single time. It never failed that someone would come up to me after a service and share with me that they were going through the same things that God delivered me from.
Some of the other areas that I needed to surrender to Him were my anxiety that came with releasing music, going on tour, and leaving home for long periods of time. If I allowed it, I would begin to focus more on my anxiety, rather than Him. That's where the first song, "Focus," was birthed.
Q: One of the most personal songs on the project, "Depend on You (All I Need)," was written during a season of infertility. How did that experience deepen your understanding of depending on God when prayers seem to go unanswered?
It's not only personal, but it's my all-time favorite song I've ever released. During that season of uncertainty and heartache, deep down I knew that God was going to bless us with a child- but it was going to be in His timing. Last year, we gave up. We surrendered it to Him and stopped looking at a calendar. But every time my nephew would come over to ride the tractor with me or my niece would ask me to comb her hair-or when I'd catch a glimpse of my wife taking a nap with her niece-it was a reminder of the heartache and ongoing questions. Will we ever get to become parents? Has God put this desire in our hearts just to dangle it over our heads while everyone around us is getting pregnant? I knew those questions were only coming from my own mind and from the enemy as well. I had to choose to continue to trust Him. And while waiting and trusting, I had to continue to be obedient in all the other areas of my life-my marriage, music, and relationships.
Q: Your testimony includes addiction, PTSD, military service, and a dramatic encounter with God that changed your life. Looking back, how have those valleys shaped the way you now lead others in worship?
One of my encounters with God was on December 12, 2020, at the first annual Brazoria County Revival, and that has shaped the way I lead others into worship. His love became more tangible than ever in those moments, and I think it was simply because I drew near to Him. If He ever felt far from me, it was my absence, not His. Now I can bring that testimony to the stage and allow what He did for me to fuel my worship so that others can experience that same tangible love of a Heavenly Father.
Q: Every year you return to the very courthouse where you were sentenced as a teenager to host the Brazoria County Revival. What does that annual event mean to you personally, and what does it say about God's power to redeem even our darkest chapters?
This year will be our 7th annual Brazoria County Revival. Every year it has grown in attendance, and it reminds me of the importance of continued surrender. We are in desperate need of daily renewing. I think that's why His mercies are new every morning, because for us, it should be a daily habit. Entering in. Surrendering. Trusting. Obeying. I'm living proof that He is in the redeeming business. As believers, we all are living proof of that. Whether we see it or not, He's still redeeming and that says a lot about the character of God-that He never stops fighting for us. Even when we are the ones to toss and turn like the ocean, He remains constant.
Q: As listeners spend time with Garden of the Lord, what do you hope happens beyond simply enjoying the music? What do you hope their own "walk through the garden" with God looks like?
I think every person's "walk through the garden" is going to be different, dependent on what we've each experienced and gone through. But my hope is that when people listen, it would encourage them to simply accept the invitation to walk with Him in their own spiritual garden. I think accepting the invitation is key, because until do, He will not give up on coming to the door to knock.
For further information, visit justingambino.com or turningpointpr.com. Follow Gambino on Facebook and Instagram.
