Big Daddy Weave has ministered to Christian music fans for years with their music. And, despite their success, the Alabama-based band--Mike Weaver, Jay Weaver, Jeremy Redmon, Joe Shirk, and Brian Beihl--knows what it means to truly live by faith and to trust in a God who makes all things new.
Every song on this stellar collection displays the band's heart behind what they do--leading people in worship. When The Light Comes demonstrates, once again, the passion and energy that have made Big Daddy Weave one of Christian music's most compelling acts.
True to form, When The Light Comes reflects real life and emotion, from longing and struggle to breakthrough and gratitude, with frontman Mike Weaver's forthright songwriting and intimate and unmistakable vocals backed by powerful arrangements and stellar musicianship. It derives its power from the fact that life and music intertwine so fully. “I Know” is catchy, relevant and worshipful like their previous hit songs. I had the chance to speak with Mike about “I Know.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
While we were writing When The Light Comes, we were going through a terrible season in our lives. Every song on this album is written through the scope of what we went through. We almost lost my brother and he became a double amputee, my father passed away from pulmonary fibrosis, and my mother got a cancer diagnosis.
The enemy had our family in a grip healthwise. I wrote songs with Benji Cowart, a friend of mine, for this album (this is the third project where we’ve written songs together). We wrote “Redeemed” and “The Only Name” together. When we met up, he brought most of this song to me.
I remember reading the line, “Though my eyes have never seen You/I’ve seen enough to say.” I read those lyrics and wept. He put into lyrics what I was feeling inside. The original bridge was “Your Kingdom come Your will be done.” We had used that in our song, “Jesus I Believe.” And, I decided to write the bridge, which became “On my darkest day/From my deepest pain/Through it all, my heart/Will choose to sing Your praise.”
We can’t control what happens to us in this life. But, we can make a choice on how to respond to what comes out of us. It’s our choice to either succumb to what’s happened and how we feel. Or, we can realize that God hasn’t changed; and we can respond to God rather than to our ever-changing situations.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Exodus 33:19 (NKJV): “Then He said, “I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.”
Philippians 1:21(NIV): "For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."
Romans 2:4(NIV): "Or do you show contempt for the riches of His kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?"
Psalm 146:2 (NKJV): “While I live I will praise the Lord; I will sing praises to my God while I have my being.”
Psalm 119:114(NKJV): "You are my hiding place and my shield; I hope in Your word."
Romans 15:13(NIV): “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
Ephesians 3:17-19 (NIV): “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.”
What is the takeaway message?
"I Know" is about declaring our choice to sing His praise on our darkest day and in our deepest pain. Our privilege is the ability and the right to make that choice. As we began to sing the song and telling the story behind it on the road, the coronavirus pandemic unfolded around us.
We don’t have to respond to the COVID-19 virus. We need to do what wisdom requires: wash our hands, wear masks, and social distance from others. We don’t have to do any of the aforementioned from a place of fear. Even though we're being cautious, we can live from a place of praise in our lives saying, “God I choose to acknowledge that You are greater than whatever it is that we are going through.” I know that You are good. I know that You are kind.
Even if the worst ever happens to me, there’s more to life than just this temporary life. For me to live is Christ, to die is gain. That’s what this song is about. It's our choice to let Jesus be the focus in our lives and to make a greater deal about who He is than about our current circumstances.
Lyrics: You don't answer all my questions But You hear me when I speak You don't keep my heart from breaking But when it does, You weep with me You're so close that I can feel You When I've lost the words to pray And though my eyes have never seen You I've seen enough to say
I know that You are good I know that You are kind I know that You are so much more Than what I leave behind I know that I am loved I know that I am safe 'Cause even in the fire To live is Christ, to die is gain I know that You are good
I don't understand the sorrow But You're calm within the storm Sometimes this weight is overwhelming But I don't carry it alone You're still close when I can't feel You I don't have to be afraid And though my eyes have never seen You I've seen enough to say
I know that You are good I know that You are kind I know that You are so much more Than what I leave behind I know that I am loved I know that I am safe 'Cause even in the fire To live is Christ, to die is gain I know that You are good You are good I know
On my darkest day
From my deepest pain Through it all, my heart Will choose to sing Your praise
On my darkest day From my deepest pain Through it all, my heart Will choose to sing Your praise
On my darkest day In my deepest pain Through it all, my heart Will choose to sing Your praise
I know that You are good I know that You are kind I know that You are so much more Than what I leave behind I know that I am loved I know that I am safe 'Cause even in the fire To live is Christ, to die is gain I know that You are good, yeah I know that You are good, yeah I know
Closing Thoughts
Our worship is an offering, but God is the one who made the way for us to be with Him. It's about submitting ourselves to Him and His goodness. And, allowing His blood to cover us and run through our veins, giving us a blood transfusion. That's how we can "overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony," as stated in Revelation 12:11-12 (KJV).
Worship is about giving God our best, offering ourselves to Him. All we can do is submit to Him. Give everything we have to Him. According to God's Word in Jeremiah 29:13, we need to search for Him with all our hearts. And, we will find Him.
In our fast-paced society, how often are we dedicating our whole heart to God? "I Know" celebrates the truth written in The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis. In the movie and book, the author depicts Aslan as God. He says about God: "He's not safe, but He's good." Yes, He's very good. If you think about the type of faith we're called to have as believers, it's described as the faith of a mustard seed.
“I Know” is a faith statement. Righteousness was accredited to the prophet Abraham for his faith. We need to have the faith that the Bible describes in Hebrews 11:1 (NIV): "Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
When you sing along with this great song, think of Jesus saying, "Why are you fearful, O' you of little faith?" Have faith. Don't be afraid and know that, with Jesus, you will never be alone. God tells us in the Bible that we can do anything in Christ with faith. I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song filled with biblical truth.
We can face our daily battles with more courage and strength because we know that whatever the outcome, based on His promise in Romans 8:28: "God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose."
Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires people to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not by sight is that we can learn to more fully trust God with our lives. I love singing this song back to Jesus and telling Him plainly that I need no other than Him. Pray along, “I know that You are good/I know that You are kind/I know that You are so much more/Than what I leave behind/I know that I am loved/I know that I am safe/'Cause even in the fire/To live is Christ, to die is gain.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a longtime fan of Christian music, an avid music collector, and credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters
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