An honest conversation with Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real

What a privilege to have Matt Hammitt with us on Pardon the Mess today. You’re going to love our vulnerable conversation about his career, work-life balance, marriage struggles, and the challenges of walking away from old dreams when called by God to new ones. 

From 1996-2016, Matt was the lead singer and songwriter for the band Sanctus Real, touring the country extensively for the majority of the year. As he and his wife, Amy, began to have kids, Amy struggled with Matt’s touring schedule and the demands of raising their young family alone. 

The hit song “Lead Me” was born from the stress and struggle of balancing his marriage and family with his role in Sanctus Real. The lyrics of the song describe Amy’s need for Matt to lead their family well and to be more present. Although most of us are not lead singers of a band (or married to one), we can all relate to the push and pull between careers, dreams, and the huge responsibility of shepherding our families well. 

Matt has received three Dove Awards, has been nominated for two Grammy Awards, and recently released his book, Lead Me: Finding Courage to Fight for Your Marriage, Children, and Faith. 

This podcast is for all of us who have too many balls in the air and need a grace-filled reminder that God’s best for us sometimes requires a hard look at what we’re chasing. And it encourages us to really look at how our dreams impact the ones we love the very most.