Meredith Andrews' albums have received well-deserved acclaim for her premier songwriting and singing ability. Almost six years ago, Meredith's debut album The Invitation included the hit song "You're Not Alone." Meredith followed up with her next "best" album, Dove Award winning Worship Album of the Year, As Long As It Takes.
With her previous recordings, Andrews focused on a theme and wrote poetic and worshipful commentary with songs about her walk with Jesus. Worth It All is the newest "best" album by Meredith Andrews.
While not a departure from her signature piano-based style, this album builds on the momentum of Meredith's vertical worship songs "New Song We Sing," "How Great is the Love" and recent number one inspirational song, "Not for a Moment (After All)." She has written and recorded an entire album loaded with songs that all bring listeners the Throne Room focusing on how God is "Worth It All." I had the chance to speak with Meredith about "Pieces," her newest single from my top worship album of 2013.
Please tell me about the background message behind the song.
When I started writing for this album, we intentionally set out to do a worship record and writing songs for the Church. My songs have been worshipful, but not necessarily corporate worship, because sometimes I'm too wordy. I started praying and asked God to help me write songs that people could sing back to Him. I was humbled and overwhelmed by the songs God gave us.
Songs one through ten fall into that category, but "Pieces" doesn't. It's a horizontal song. Along the way of writing for this album I ended up writing this song with Ben Glover in Nashville. We had written together before, but one of the things we learned about each other is that he and I both have adopted brothers. I have three and he has one. We were sharing about how our brothers have struggled with their identities. They are trying to figure out who they are and where they belong.
I started telling him about one of my brothers who has just really been through a hard time. He's in high school, navigating those waters and trying to figure out who he is. I've been watching him and other kids in high school just trying to figure out who they are and striving so hard for acceptance. They'll do anything to get it, but inside they are really hurting and confused, and that's how I felt. Ben and I just talked for a long time and this song came out. It's got substance to it. It's a challenge. It's saying that God can take your life and put it back together. It doesn't matter where you've been and what you've done. You don't have to hide who you are.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Psalm 139:1-10 (NKJV): O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know my sitting down and my rising up; You understand my thought afar off. You comprehend my path and my lying down, And are acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word on my tongue, But behold, O Lord, You know it altogether. You have hedged me behind and before, And laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; It is high, I cannot attain it. Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
Hebrews 4:3 (The Voice): "We who believe are entering into salvation's rest, as He said, That is why I swore in anger they would never enter salvation's rest, even though God's works were finished from the very creation of the world."
Romans 12:4-6 (The Voice): "For in the same way that one body has so many different parts, each with different functions; we, too—the many—are different parts that form one body in the Anointed One. Each one of us is joined with one another, and we become together what we could not be alone. Since our gifts vary depending on the grace poured out on each of us, it is important that we exercise the gifts we have been given. If prophecy is your gift, then speak as a prophet according to your proportion of faith."
What's the takeaway message for listeners?
As I've started singing this song I've realized more and more that it's not just for my brother but it's my own story as well. I've tried so many times in the course of my relationship with God to prove myself. I have always felt that I need to do something. In our need to belong, we strive to be something we're not to measure up. The grace of God is all sufficient. When we get to the place of realizing that's where we belong, in the family of God, in His Kingdom, we are the children of the Most High God, and we are seen as righteous. We are seen as perfect, because of the perfect sacrifice of Jesus. That's something we need to reconcile every day.
We need to remember it's not what we do or don't do, or our circumstances. Our core identity is based on the fact that we are children of God and He loves us with an everlasting love. A sense of belonging is what we are all after. In the grand scheme of things, we all want to know where we fit in. What does God have for my life? The world doesn't revolve around me, but I want to make my life count and I want it to matter. I want it to be worth something. That's a heart cry that we all have within us, where do I belong and where do I fit in? I feel like this is what I want to say to them: You are loved and special and God has a purpose for your life. You can hand over your broken pieces to Him. God can take anything broken and make it beautiful.
Lyrics:
It's a complex puzzle you call your life
It's an uphill climb, it's a constant fight
And it wears you down
Feeling like you're alone, like you don't belong
And you won't be loved if you don't measure up
And you wear your scars
Like they're who you are
Give Him your wounds, your bruised and broken pieces
All your questions, all your secrets
You don't have to hide who you are
You belong to someone greater
Than all your past mistakes and failures
Rest in who He is
He knows how to make your pieces fit
He's the light on the road when you're lost in the dark
And He won't run away if you show your heart
Wants you to believe it
You can taste that freedom
When you give Him your wounds, your bruised and broken pieces
All your questions, all your secrets
You don't have to hide who you are
You belong to someone greater
Than all your past mistakes and failures
Rest in who He is
He knows how to make your pieces fit
You are completely known
You are completely loved
This is where you belong
Give Him your wounds, your bruised and broken pieces
All your questions, all your secrets
You don't have to hide who you are
You belong to someone greater
Than all your past mistakes and failures
Rest in who He is
He knows how to make your pieces fit
Meredith is the premier female worship song writer in all of Christian music, along with Christy Nockels, Brooke Fraser Ligertwood and Mia Fieldes in my opinion. She consistently writes and sings piercing, relevant and moving songs. If you are looking for an entire album of songs like Dove Award-winning Worship Song of the Year "Your Great Name" as recorded by Natalie Grant, look no further than Meredith Andrews. What's especially cool about this album is how Meredith invites listeners into her life by sharing what's on her heart. She dwells on prayerful yearnings, lays out spiritual truths and worships God all at the same time.
The lyrics: "He's the light on the road when you're lost in the dark, and He won't run away if you show your heart, wants you to believe it" have been resonating with me as I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely no matter our circumstances or personal distractions or concerns. The bridge has an amazing and comforting reminder: "You are completely known, You are completely loved, This is where you belong."
This song is a great celebratory anthem about what it means to have hope in Christ, and that if you know Christ, you don't have to hide who you are, because you belong to someone greater, God. Sometimes it is hard to believe that God loves us so much that He knows us intimately and He wants to fill our hearts with love. We don't have to be pretend, or hide, or strive or stand on our tiptoes to meet some mark. He knows our brokenness inside and out, and because of what Jesus did on the Cross, He sees us as righteous. God sees us as He sees His Son. It's not our righteousness, or appearance or talent or gifting, it is just Jesus. That's cause to celebrate and to "rest in who He is, He knows how to make your pieces fit." Amen to that!
(You can watch the music video here.)
