Singer-songwriter Brandon Heath last made his mark with his impressive album Faith Hope Love Repeat four years ago (it was one of my top 10 albums of 2017). If you listen to that album or his other music, you'll notice he offers a musical style reminiscent of Christian artists John Waller, John Tibbs, and Josh Wilson. Brandon has strong vocals, personal lyrics, and a testimony of grace that can be heard in each song he releases.
Now, Brandon is back with his new single "Human Nature," one of the most uplifting, challenging, and introspective songs I've heard this year. As evident in this song, his vulnerability and ability to connect emotionally in his songs bring me closer to God. Whether as an artist to set the mood for reflection and worship or for personal times of devotion, I rank Brandon Heath highly for fans of truth-telling singer-songwriters. I had the chance to speak with Brandon about “Human Nature.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I wrote the song with Christian Hale and Paul Duncan, two songwriters I'd never met before. I knew Paul had written songs with pop artist Lauren Daigle, and Christian had been a writer with the record label Centricity Music. So, I came into this experience with an open mind and an open heart.
The night before I was to meet Christian and Paul in the studio, I watched the documentary, “Identical Strangers.” It was about these three triplets separated at birth that find each other in the late 1970s, early 1980s. The documentary was a look at their lives, and the struggles they went through living separated lives. I came into the studio thinking about the human condition, whatever that is.
People define human nature differently depending on their needs and understanding of the term. Some would say it’s human to compare or human to covet.
If you look at human nature as sinful nature, then you're living in a way that you know something is wrong by how you feel, like those separated triplets. They could feel something was wrong. Like us, being separated from God, we don’t always know something is wrong, but we feel that something is wrong.
For me, when I think about human nature, I think about how God is passionate about us. He takes delight in us. He’s our creator. How could He not delight in who we are? That’s where Jesus comes in and makes a connection between us and God, so we can know Him.
We're all human and being human often means making mistakes. It also means we are His creation. We are worthy of His love through Jesus. That’s what I wanted to portray in the song. I wanted the song to sound like “A Hard Knock-Life” from Annie, where all these orphans don’t know who they belong to, but they long to belong to somebody. I wanted it to sound like an inner-city orphanage.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 8:14(NIV): “For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.”
Romans 8:16(NIV): “The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.”
Romans 8:17(NIV): “Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in His sufferings in order that we may also share in His glory.”
Matthew 11:29-30(NKJV): "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."
1 Peter 2:9-10(MSG): “But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV): But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV): "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Ephesians 2:10(NLT): "For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago."
Psalm 139:13-14(NKJV): "For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well."
What is the takeaway message?
The song's about the brokenness we experience through separation. When the savior meets human nature, He redeems it all. We were made to be with God, and we're made to be with each other. We're not supposed to be alone.
Fatherhood has altered my viewpoint on the necessity of relationships and the way the Father loves us. For me, sometimes I feel like such a burden to myself and to God, but my perspective has changed as a dad. My girls, they're my babies. I will step into the burden of parenting because I want to. So, it was important for me to remind myself that I'm not God's problem; I'm His child.
Lyrics
We're not God's problem, we are God's children We are not hopeless, we're what He's building We can be unfinished and still be His image To bring in the light to the land of the living We're not God's problem, we are His children
So don't let nobody tell you otherwise The truth is in your Father's eyes And anything else is a lie It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie
When the Savior meets human nature (Human nature) Somehow the world don't seem so empty anymore When the Savior meets human nature (Human nature) That's all we gotta do is open the door And say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in" And say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in"
We're not God's problem, we are God's family
We're at the table, like it's thanksgiving He's not mad but He loves you madly Can see what you've done but He can see what you will be We're not God's problem, we are God's family
When the Savior meets human nature (Human nature) Somehow the world don't seem so empty anymore When the Savior meets human nature (Human nature) That's all we gotta do is open the door And say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in" And say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in"
Here's the thing Being human means making mistakes But don't be mistaken Being human means you're worthy of love, you're worthy of love
So don't let nobody tell you otherwise The truth is in your Father's eyes And anything else is a lie It's a lie, it's a lie, it's a lie
When the Savior meets human nature (Human nature) Somehow the world don't seem so empty anymore When the Savior meets human nature (Human nature) That's all we gotta do is open the door And say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in" And say, and say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in" And say, and say, "Come on in, come on in, come on in" He's out there knocking so let's open the door
Closing Thoughts
We all have insecurities in some way. Having anxiety and being able to overcome fear can be accomplished only by stepping into God's supernatural ability. It's only through God's grace that we can overcome our emotional conflicts of feeling invisible and conspicuous at the same time.
Oftentimes, we find ourselves on shaky ground, dealing with the uncertainty of our situations, our economy, and our world. But, Brandon Heath's "Human Nature" is one song that allows us to dwell on the unshakable nature of God. When all else fades away, He will remain.
The song’s message is simple, “Know that we don't have to be perfect; God made us the way we are for a reason. We're beautiful and we're worth it. We have something to say.”
We're fearfully and wonderfully made. Don't let the world tell you who you are. It doesn't matter what you look like outside if you have Jesus on the inside. That's where we can find our true identities—in Him.
For me, the most encouraging part of this song is the message that I don't have to be perfect, but that God knows me and loves me just as I am. That is cause for celebration as we all have the freedom to be ourselves and know that He has great plans for us.
A blessing I've received from this song is listening to my daughters sing the lyrics with all their hearts. The words build them up, giving them positive thoughts. Thoughts that point them to the unconditional love of their heavenly Father. God's singing the song's lyrics over all of us.
“Human Nature” is a biblical truth that all listeners can resonate with. The truth that Christians are new people on the inside. The truth that the Holy Spirit gives us new life. And, the truth that we don't have to live anymore with our guilt, fears, perfectionism, or worries. This song is a personal testimony to the power of walking out of the darkness and into God's marvelous light.
This song celebrates the freedom we're promised in God's Holy Word, as stated in Corinthians 5:17: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." The song challenges me to think about what I'm allowing to rule in my heart, instead of giving myself completely to God.
Jesus died on the cross to set us free from the battle of our minds, from sin and death. God comes and claims us in our darkest place. He wants us to have abundant life in Him. What a wonderful, encouraging truth. God knows us intimately. And, because of what He did on the cross, He sees us as holy, righteous, redeemed, chosen, fully known, and forgiven--no matter what we've done.
If you've put all your hope and trust in Jesus, there's nothing that can separate you from His love. God promises in Matthew 11:29-30 that His yoke is easy, and His burden is light. When we are in communion with God, it's joyful and not a burden.
I sing this song's truth at the top of my lungs: “We're not God's problem, we are God's family/We're at the table, like it's thanksgiving/He's not mad but He loves you madly/Can see what you've done but He can see what you will be/We're not God's problem, we are God's family.” 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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