Led by Phil Joel, best known for his long-standing role as bass player and vocalist for the multiplatinum-selling band Newsboys, Zealand Worship has been recording and singing worship songs for worshipers of all ages. They can often be found at youth camps and retreats. Joel explains, "I realized that leading worship is all about leading people's hearts to a place far beyond a stage or a melody. True worship isn't just about a moment; it's about a lasting movement in people's lives."

In that vein, the first cover of "Good Good Father" following the Housefires original was by Zealand Worship. The original recording of that song for the church can be found on Housefires II. Zealand Worship recorded an upbeat tempo version of the song that has quickly become the most popular worship song of the year due to the subsequent recordings by Chris Tomlin, Big Daddy Weave, Casting Crowns, Passion and others.

Zealand Worship stayed true to their sound and their mission in releasing their album Zealand Worship: The EP which features the standout songs "You Awaken My Soul," "Good Good Father," "Savior" and "Greener." I had the chance to speak with Phil Joel about "Good Good Father."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

This song really has blown up, hasn't it? It has really become an anthem, and I'm so excited because it is such a great song. I first heard it because a friend of mine told me that Pat Barrett had written and recorded this song, and I knew him from years ago. We led worship together during the Acquire the Fire events and Teen Mania. When I heard the song, I said, "Wow this is great, I love it!" Their original Housefires version was beautiful, and I knew it was something that we could sing and declare. We jumped in the studio and recorded the song. 

Being the band that we are, we are in front of a lot of youth most weekends at youth conferences and retreats. We upped the tempo of the song and cranked it up a notch. To me, it's something you want to celebrate, that God is a good, good Father, to tell Him "You are good!" This is at the epistemological base of our faith, that this God that we serve is good. If He's not good, then we can just go home, but He is good. I think it's important, and I'm so stoked that's it become so widely sung and that we could be a little part of helping it get heard by people.

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

2 Corinthians 6:18 (The Voice): "'And I will be for you as a Father, and you will be for Me as sons and daughters,' Says the Lord Almighty!"

Galatians 4:4-6 (The Voice): "When the right time arrived, God sent His Son into this world (born of a woman, subject to the law) to free those who, just like Him, were subject to the law. Ultimately He wanted us all to be adopted as sons and daughters. Because you are now part of God's family, He sent the Spirit of His Son into our hearts; and the Spirit calls out, 'Abba, Father.'"

Romans 8:28 (NIV): "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."

Psalm 68:4-6 (NIV): "Sing to God, sing in praise of His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds, rejoice before Him-His name is the Lord. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."

Psalm 46:10 (NIV): "Be still, and know that I Am God."

Psalm 46:9-11 (NLT): "He causes wars to end throughout the earth. He breaks the bow and snaps the spear; he burns the shields with fire. "Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honored by every nation. I will be honored throughout the world." The Lord of Heaven's Armies is here among us; the God of Israel is our fortress."

What is the takeaway message?

One of my connections with the song is that I'm a dad, and I have two kids. The whole idea of God being our heavenly Father and caring for us and having our best in mind changes when you become a dad. You realize just how real and tangible that is, and it raises in importance to you. That's why the message of this song resonates with me. A lot of people don't get that impression of God right away, and they think of Him as an opponent instead of as a good Father that wants His kids close and has their best interests at heart. For me, being an earthly dad, I realize that for my kids their first earthly impression of what God is like comes from me. That is a big responsibility. If I'm not around, or not available, or untrustworthy, or unreliable, or grumpy, or if my discipline is unjust, then my kids will get the wrong impression of our ultimate authority, God. I'm going to do the best I can with what I've got. I will still fail, but God doesn't. 

No matter your experience with your earthly father, and I hope it has been good and that you know that you are loved unconditionally, but if that's not the case, I'm sorry because God is not like us earthly dads. Some of us fail. You can depend on God, and He will never let you down. God will never leave you or forsake you. The God we serve is good.

Lyrics:
I've heard a thousand stories of what they think You're like
But I've heard tender whispers of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You're pleased
And that I'm never alone

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who You are, It's who You are, It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, It's who I am, It's who I am

I've seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we're all searching
For answers only You can provide
Cause You know just what we need
Before we, we say a word

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who You are, It's who You are, It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, It's who I am, It's who I am

You're a Good, Good Father
And I'm loved by You

You are perfect in all of Your ways
Perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who You are, It's who You are, It's who You are
And I'm loved by You
It's who I am, It's who I am, It's who I am

You are perfect in all of Your ways

You're a Good, Good Father
It's who You are, It's who You are, It's who You are

The first verse of this song is wanting it to be true that "I am never alone," the second verse is needing it to be true that "You know just what we need before we, we say a word," and the chorus and bridge is knowing that it is true and staking our lives on the knowledge that God is a "Good, Good Father" and "You are perfect in all of Your ways to us." The message compels me to think about where God is calling me to go for Him and how can I respond with my life verse "Here I am Lord, send me" (Isaiah 6:8). The harvest is plenty, but the workers are few. As His sons and daughters, we need to take God's love with us everywhere we go and know that His love goes with us. 

I have spent time reflecting on and singing this song to God, and it always gives me comfort. God is speaking to us in His still small voice, and as believers we need to take time to "be still and know that He is God." Are you allowing The Holy Spirit to work in your life? Are you spending time listening to Him? He'll make you free. God wants to hear from you. With everything going on in our world, we need the encouragement that God is with us and we're not alone. There is no day, no hour of the day, in which our Lord Jesus is not present.

I am wrecked by songs that are sung to God, our perfect Daddy, "Abba Father," and based on the biblical truth: "Be still, and know that I Am God" (Psalm 46:10). That passage is such an encouraging reminder of God's sovereignty and that He has been, is and always will be with us. If God is with us, we can endure anything. This song allows God to whisper to you that your identity is found in who He is as your Father and who you are as His child, loved by Him.

This song is a beautiful way to express our devotion and gives me hope and inspiration as one of God's children. You can sing this song with that same faithfulness, knowing that God loves us and is always with us, telling Him: "You are perfect in all of Your ways to us. You're a good, good Father, it's who You are, it's who You are, it's who You are. And I'm loved by You."  Amen to that!

Watch the music video below.