Emerson Day Turned Down Her ‘Dream Job’ for a Greater Calling in Christian Music
Emerson Day still remembers the phone call as if it were yesterday – the one offering her the so-called dream job she had been working toward for years. She thanked the voice on the other end, then politely declined. God, she believed, had other plans.
Today, Day is known to Christian music fans for hit songs such as Get Behind Me and God Ain’t Finished Yet. Back then, though, she was a recent college graduate trying to land a job as a federal law enforcement agent.
“Since I was probably 15 or so, that was what I wanted to do,” she told Crosswalk Headlines.
“That, for me, was my dream job.”
Day applied for a position with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) and began the lengthy background check and polygraph process – a nine-month wait that gave her time to reflect on her path in life. During that stretch, she picked up a guitar, a skill she first learned at age 16, and began writing and singing again.
“And the Holy Spirit just used that time,” she said, “to really just work on my heart and speak to me.”
At first, she didn’t embrace God’s vision.
“I can remember so clearly hearing: [Music] is what you're supposed to do, and at first I was like, ‘No, that cannot be it. I just got my dream job.’ And for that entire year, I wrestled with that decision.”
That wrestling came to a head when, months later, an ATF representative called to say the process was complete and she was approved. She had landed a law enforcement position.
“They called me and they said, ‘Hey, we’re ready for you to come to training.’ … I turned them down right there on the phone.
“I hung up the phone, and it was the most peace that I'd had in that entire year.”
Day continued writing and singing, performing acoustic shows on weekends, and waiting for God to open a door. Years passed, though, and the breakthrough still hadn’t arrived.
“I really struggled with: Did I hear this right?”
That breakthrough finally came in 2023, when she signed her first record deal with Fair Trade Services. Her debut single, God Ain’t Finished Yet, landed on the Billboard Christian Airplay chart. This year, Get Behind Me climbed into the chart’s Top 10.
“Nothing is wasted by God, and He was just so faithful, continued to open doors for me, and eight years later, now here we are. [It’s] pretty crazy.”
Day is known for her soulful, gritty sound rooted in rock guitar with heartfelt storytelling
Get Behind Me was inspired by a phrase her grandmother often said to the children. She describes the song as a “freight train” that steadily builds energy.
“I can remember going to her and being worried about something,” Day said. “She had this little thing that she taught us. She's like, ‘Those feelings do not come from our Heavenly Father, those come from the enemy.’ And she would say: You need to say three times – ‘Devil get behind me in the name of the Lord.’ That taught me Who really fights for me and Who really holds the ultimate victory, Who is in control.”
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Photo Credit: ©Fair Trade Services
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
Listen to Michael's Podcast! He is the host of Crosswalk Talk, a podcast where he talks with Christian movie stars, musicians, directors, and more. Hear how famous Christian figures keep their faith a priority in Hollywood and discover the best Christian movies, books, television, and other entertainment. You can find Crosswalk Talk on LifeAudio.com, or subscribe on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an interview that will be sure to encourage your faith.
Originally published December 16, 2025.
