Thoughts on "Too Good To Not Believe" by Cody Carnes and Brandon Lake
It’s always important to think about the how a worship song will work in our church context.
"Too Good To Not Believe" by Cody Carnes and Brandon Lake is the perfect example of a song that needs context.
Here are the lyrics in full:
I've lived stories that have proved Your faithfulness
I've seen miracles my mind can't comprehend
And there is beauty in what I can't understand
Jesus, it's You, Jesus, it's You I believe
You're the wonder-working God
You're the wonder-working God
All the miracles I've seen
Too good to not believe
You're the wonder-working God
And You heal because You love
Oh, the miracles we'll see
You're too good to not believe
Too good to not believe
Too good to not believe, oh-oh
And I can't resurrect a man with my own hands
But just the mention of Your name can raise the dead (yeah)
All the glory to the only One who can
Jesus, it's You, Jesus, it's You (come on)
We've seen cancer disappear
We've seen broken bodies healed
Don't you tell me He can't do it
Don't you tell me He can't do it
We've seen real life resurrection
We've seen mental health restored
Don't you tell me He can't do it
Don't you tell me He can't do it
We've seen families reunited
We've seen prodigals return (come home)
Don't you tell me He can't do it
Don't you tell me He can't do it (don't you ever tell me)
We've seen troubled souls delivered
We've seen addicts finally freed (finally freed)
Don't you tell me He can't do it
Don't you tell me He can't do it
We'll see cities in revival
Salvation flood the streets (come on)
Don't you tell me He can't do it
Don't you tell me He can't do it
We'll see glory fill the nations
Like the world has never seen
Don't you tell me He can't do it
'Cause I know that He can
These lyrics speak of seeing miracles from a very personal and literal perspective. It makes sense as co-writer Joshua Silverberg has spoken freely about his own supernatural healing from asthma and both Carnes and Lake have referenced miracles they’ve see in their own lives. As a congregational song however, such personal experiences are difficult to sing with conviction. Personally I haven’t seen “real life resurrection” so it’s hard for me to belt that out.
Lake himself has acknowledged the inherent challenge in the songs subject.
While lyrics like “You heal because You love” can be encouraging and are true, there is an unspoken question on the other side. If I’ve failed to see healing I’ve prayed for, does God not love me? How many times have we prayed and not seen the miracle we’ve sought? What does that mean about the goodness of God?
The answers aren’t easy but that doesn’t mean this song doesn’t have a place.
So where does this song fit?
To me, it makes the most sense when the theme of a gathering is healing. Prayer meetings and altar calls make sense. Listening in private times is also powerful. It’s intended to build faith and after spending the time on the tutorial I can tell you listening on repeat did spark that in me.
Learn 'Too Good To Not Believe' here.