How Can It Be Album Review: A Soulful Exploration of Faith and Doubt

How Can It Be is Lauren Daigle's debut studio album, released by Centricity Music, and it arrived on the CCM scene in 2015 with a voice and songwriting sensibility that set it apart from much of the genre at the time. The album blends soul, pop, and contemporary worship into a collection that feels both polished and emotionally raw.

What strikes you first is Daigle's vocal presence. She sings with a warmth and conviction that invites you into the songs rather than performing at you. The title track, "How Can It Be," wrestles honestly with the tension between human frailty and divine grace—asking, in essence, how someone so broken could be met with such love. That thread of honest questioning runs through much of the album, making it feel like a companion for those walking through seasons of doubt or difficulty rather than a collection of triumphant declaration.

Musically, the production leans contemporary but isn't aggressively so. There are moments of stripped-back intimacy alongside fuller arrangements, and the overall sonic palette favors warmth over polish. The album isn't afraid of imperfection in its lyrics or delivery, which gives it a credibility that more formulaic CCM sometimes lacks.

For devotional use, this works well as background listening during prayer time or as a deliberate listening experience for reflection. The themes invite contemplation—you could easily pause the album mid-track to sit with a lyric or pray through a question the song raises. That said, this is music, not teaching, so it won't replace reading Scripture or a solid devotional guide.

Theological tone is generally orthodox and emotionally intelligent. The album doesn't dig deep into systematic theology, but it doesn't need to. It's concerned with experience, relationship, and the quiet miracle of being pursued by grace.

Physically, Centricity's releases are typically well-packaged with clear liner notes and meaningful artwork, though I'd recommend checking the specific format you're ordering.

Not the right fit if you prefer traditional hymns, instrumental-only music, or lyrics that stay on firm doctrinal ground without emotional ambiguity. Also, if you're looking for an album that resolves every theological question, you may find the album's tendency to sit in tension a bit unsettling.