America's stubborn unemployment rate continues to hover at around 10 percent. And while that may be discouraging news for many, it has motivated one Christian singer/songwriter to turn his personal story of job loss into an album of inspiration.

"Expect The Great" is the first release from Jonathan Nelson's second Gospel album, "Better Days." Nelson said it's an album meant to encourage believers to hold onto their faith in troubled times.

"This is the hour where people must again believe -- one, believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, but also believe that he rewards them that diligently seek him," he said.

Lyrics are more than just words to Nelson. When this husband and father sings, he remembers the personal storms he has weathered before finding success in music.

"I went through a journey of where I was working for a Fortune 500 company, lost my job and if I hadn't lost my job, I would not have found God the way that I found Him in my own way," he explained.

"The season where I was, it was called, 'Trust God.' So, in that season of trust God, I learned him. I learned how to talk to him. I learned how to communicate with him and I learned that he wasn't such a scary God. He communicated back to me," Nelson said.

That relationship with God pulled Nelson away from thoughts of suicide and, ultimately, inspired him to write award-winning music for some of today's most popular Gospel artists.

While he never expected the success he now enjoys, he says his childhood helped prepare him for it.

"My father was a hell, fire and brimstone kind of preacher. And you know there are some preachers out there like that. The Lord is soon to come. You got to get your house in order. That kind of thing, so for me, I guess I was scared straight," Nelson said laughing.

The fear has long since been replaced by the faith he sings about today.