"The title track is a worship song rooted in real life experiences. It's about all the wrong turns we made along the way, yet having someone there to watch our back. It's about looking at the past and being happy and counting our blessings. When things really could have gone bad, they didn't, by the grace of God. Whether it's our life, our daily routine or in light of our sin, we trust God with everything. We trust Him with the smallest things and we trust Him with the greatest things."
--Peter Furler

"In The Hands of God" is the title track from the newest album by Newsboys and the 25th #1 hit song of their storied career as one of the most influential bands in Christian music.

I got the chance to interview keyboardist Jeff Frankenstein earlier this month about the song. You can listen to our entire conversation here.

How would you describe the themes of the album and the title song "In The Hands of God"?

There was a two year process in writing and recording songs for the album. Everyday at 10AM, I would go to Peter’s house and we would get our coffee and discuss current events. At that time, the theme of our discussions was the state of the economy, people losing jobs and the upcoming Presidential election. I’m from Michigan so I can relate to the problems with the auto industry for example.

After we would have these conversations, Pete would write little riffs in bits and chunks. Pete has all kinds of 10 to 15 second clips of ideas on his computer. I went through his computer one day and found the chorus for “In The Hands of God” and played around with it. Nobody liked it. The next day, we were missing the third part of the song and Pete called me and left me a message singing the bridge of the song, “You’re Amazing!, You’re Amazing, You Are!” That bridge became the main theme of the title song and the whole album.

What’s the main message of the song?

The main message is that God is amazing! It is so great to have God in our lives, despite the storms of the economy, unemployment and all the uncertainties of life. God is sovereign and has a plan. For me, I couldn’t imagine life without that knowledge. Especially in light of what’s happened with the Newsboys, with Peter’s sudden decision to step down. Although the transition to Michael Tait as lead singer is working out great, this song has really been our band’s anthem as we’ve gone through this transition.

Do you have any Bible verses you used in writing the song?

We’ve been studying Romans in my study group and Romans 8:1-5 really speaks to the message of the song, particularly the idea of submitting to the Spirit.

Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.

How can listeners apply that message when they listen to the song?

The song is meant to encourage people when they are down. I recently found out that my wife and I are expecting our first baby and the pre-cursor of what we went through with the financial stress of the economy, Pete’s leaving the band, and many of life’s unexpected circumstances--the message is to trust God because He is amazing!

Here are the lyrics to “In The Hands of God”

We have raised our hopes and our cities high
We have followed fragile dreams
But only One could take the measure of our goals
And we’ve stumbled over the trials of life
And we’ve wrestled the unseen
But only One can calm the storm inside our souls

In the hands of God
We will fall
Rest for the restless and the weary
Hope for the sinner
In the hands of God
We stand tall
Hands that are mighty to deliver
Giving us freedom

When our strength gave way to the weight of guilt
‘Til we strained for every breath
Only One could lift our shame and make us well And when all is finished, and we face
The fearsome power of death
Only One has overcome the gates of hell

You’re amazing
You’re amazing, You are
And we praise you, Lord
For what Your hands have done
You’re amazing
You’re amazing, You are

For me, the bridge is the payoff and takes this song of praise to God to another level. No matter what, we were made to worship God with all of our hearts, mind and soul. We can always look back at our dreams, goals, and trials of life and know that God’s plans are better than any of our ideas. “We praise You Lord, You Are Amazing!”

You can listen to this song here.