If you have the opportunity, don’t miss the chance to see Ireland's We Are Messengers and their energetic and worshipful set, including "Everything Comes Alive," "Point to You," “Magnify” and the worshipful "I Don't Have the Answers." Their song written for The Shack, "I'll Think About You," is the only song from the compilation that can be heard in its entirety in the film, featured in one of the most emotional moments of loss and catharsis.
Recent hits include “Maybe It's Ok,” “Love,” and “Come What May.” They recently released their full-length album, Where The Joy Is. Every song on the album is a testimony to the grace and love of Jesus Christ and a creative musical expression. I had the chance to speak with Darren Mulligan about the worshipful “God Be The Glory.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
This is a song that reminds us God is turning all of our mourning into laughter, all of our sorrow into joy, and He’s turning our feet toward dancing. So whatever situation you find yourself in today, whether in great happiness or great sorrow, remember this: God is working all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purposes, for His glory and our good.
It was important for us to have this be the first single from this album as we want this song to be a marker for who this band is and what we believe. Over all these years, the common theme is that everything we do is for God’s glory and our good--in that order.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Lamentations 3:22-23 (VOICE): "How enduring is God's loyal love; the Eternal has inexhaustible compassion. Here they are, every morning, new! Your faithfulness, God, is as broad as the day."
Psalm 30:11-12 (VOICE): “You did it: You turned my deepest pains into joyful dancing; You stripped off my dark clothing and covered me with joyful light. You have restored my honor. My heart is ready to explode and erupt in new songs. It's impossible to keep quiet! Eternal One, my God, my Life-Giver, I will thank You forever.”
Psalm 30:5 (NASB): “For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; Weeping may last for the night, But a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
Romans 8:38-39 (NKJV): "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Ephesians 2:1 (NKJV): "And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins."
Ephesians 2:6 (NIV): "And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus."
1 John 3:1 (NLT): "See how very much our Father loves us, for He calls us His children, and that is what we are! But the people who belong to this world don't recognize that we are God's children because they don't know Him."
Philippians 4:6 (VOICE): “Don't be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come.”
Hebrews 13:8 (NKJV): “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
What is the takeaway message?
This song not only acknowledges this reality but revels in the fact that we have a God who loves us and is worthy of our faith, hope, and trust, no matter what circumstances we’re facing. It’s a celebration of freedom of not having to fabricate a false reality for ourselves and those around us and a declaration of the goodness of God.
In the Scriptures, time and time again, it says all of the splendor we see points to the glory of God. That is the biblical truth that lines up with what I’ve been feeling in this season as a believer. Because God is glorified, we receive joy. The happiness we tend to pursue is based on what we can get and consume. That only leads to disappointment and loneliness. Joy is possible when we have quiet obedience in the same direction as Jesus. I’m not a theologian, but I want to be biblically literate so I’m for what Jesus is for. Primarily, I’m for the glorification of God.
Lyrics
When the ground beneath my feet
Is shaking like a leaf
God, You're still good to me
When my hope is all but gone
And I'm barely hanging on
God, You're still good to me
When my heart can't find the beat
When it's dark and I can't see
I will put my hope in You
I'll trade ashes for beauty
I'll trade joy for my mourning
I'll trade, to God be the glory
To God be the glory
I'll trade strength for my weakness
I'll trade pain for my healing
I'll trade, let this be my story
To God be thе glory, oh
You love mе at my best
You love me in my mess
God, You're so good to me
There's one thing I am sure
Your promises endure
You make a way for me
When my heart can't find the beat
When it's dark and I can't see
I will put my hope in You
I'll trade ashes for beauty
I'll trade joy for my mourning
I'll trade, to God be the glory
To God be the glory
I'll trade strength for my weakness
I'll trade pain for my healing
I'll trade, let this be my story
To God be the glory
to God be the glory
(Oh-oh-oh-oh-oh)
And whatever comes my way
I will always praise Your name
I will put my hope in You
When I run into Your courts
I will fall into Your arms
I will sing a song of praise
I'll trade ashes for beauty
I'll trade joy for my mourning
I'll trade, to God be the glory (forever and ever)
To God be the glory
I'll trade strength for my weakness
I'll trade pain for my healing
I'll trade, let this be my story (forever and ever)
To God be the glory
I'll trade ashes for beauty
I'll trade (I'll trade) joy for my mourning
I'll trade, to God be the glory
To God be the glory
I'll trade strength for my weakness
I'll trade pain for my healing
I'll trade, let this be my story
To God be the glory
Closing Thoughts
Remember this Scripture passage: "God saved you by His grace when you believed. And you can't take credit for this; it is a gift from God. Salvation is not a reward for the good things we have done, so none of us can boast about it" (Ephesians 2:8-9 NLT). God wants us to boldly approach the Throne of mercy and grace to receive and obtain what we need from Him. When we acknowledge our identity in Christ through this song, our burdens are removed. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:12-13: "having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ."
Nehemiah 8:10 says, "The joy of the Lord is your strength." God promises us in His Word that His mercies are new every morning. Whatever struggle or depression you face, we know God is with you, always.
The tendency as a believer is to focus on the blessings we've received from God. But this song is a gut check of faithfulness. If all those things were removed from you, would you still understand that you're blessed? Would you still cling to God for your security and hope?
This song gives me more conviction to not feel worthless or afraid. In many areas of my life, I spend a lot of time worrying. I need to let that go and let the Lord be my redeemer. I have found that by being washed by the water of the Word, I’m strengthened with the truth that fear, worry, and anxiety are not God's plan for our lives.
As followers of Jesus, we know we can trust God's Word. I realize that Jesus commands us to trust God's Word completely, no matter our circumstances. So many people struggle to apply God's Word to their lives. If we learn to build our lives on scripture, we will all have a rock as our foundation. The Good News of the Gospel, which this song perfectly portrays, is that God accepts us—no matter what we've done or what we’re going through.
God sees us as He sees His Son. He makes something out of nothing in each of us. That's enough reason to sing this song at the top of your lungs in gratefulness to Him: “I'll trade strength for my weakness/I'll trade pain for my healing/I'll trade, let this be my story/To God be the glory.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid collector. He 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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