Multigenerational Christian contemporary band We The Kingdom—comprised of artists Franni Rae Cash Cain, Ed Cash, Scott Cash, Martin Cash, and Andrew Bergthold—has scored several hits in the past three years. The band has an infectious and upbeat musical style, layering strong and distinguished vocals over the top of one hooky melody after another.
My family and I can’t get enough of their debut LP, Holy Water. “Dancing on the Waves” is the latest single from the band’s acclaimed debut, following consecutive No. 1 hits—“God So Loved,” “Child of Love,” and “Holy Water.”
We the Kingdom’s songs have connected with my daughters and their biblically inspired lyrics represent how true happiness and identity comes from our relationship with God. Artist Franni Rae Cash Cain has emerged as one of the top new female vocalists in Christian music. And she is a great role model for girls.
I had the chance to speak with the band about their infectious song, “Dancing on the Waves.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
Ed: For us, when we wrote this song, we weren’t a band yet. We were at a camp in the Georgia mountains playing music for some high school kids. We wrote a song telling the kids how much our Father God loves us.
The way it came out, speaking in God’s voice, is that it lines up with Scripture and speaks what God says, that God is intimate with us and acquainted with our ways. That’s the whole heart behind this song. So often in our walk with God, we want to do good, we want to step out in faith, we want to see miracles.
So, like Peter, we step out of our boat. We step out of our unhealthy lifestyles, our toxic relationships, our addictions, and our unbelief. We get excited. Feel hope. Feel invincible. Then, often, we become afraid, and we fall. Then we beat ourselves up, we become discouraged, and we start sinking beneath the waves of our shame.
Martin: When writing the song, we wanted to tell the listener how much God loves us. As Ed mentioned, the song’s words come from God’s perspective. There was in no way an intention of speaking for God but from a pure place of love. Christianity was never designed to make much of what man can do.
The truth is, we cannot do much on our own. John 15:15 says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” We find our purpose in Him. Not in our strength. Not in our talents. Not in our self-worth. Christianity was designed to make much of God and what He has already done.
What Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Matthew 14:29-31(NIV): “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him.”
Zephaniah 3:17(VOICE): “The Eternal your God is standing right here among you, and He is the champion who will rescue you. He will joyfully celebrate over you; He will rest in His love for you; He will joyfully sing because of you like a new husband.”
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."
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.”
1 John 4:18(NKJV): "There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love."
Psalm 33:3(VOICE): "Sing to Him a new song; play each the best way you can, and don't be afraid to be bold with your joyful feelings."
What is the takeaway message?
Martin: The Holy Spirit dwells in us. We’re the living temple of God, and He is in us, interceding for us, speaking over us—that’s powerful. God is constantly reaching out to me and will chase me down—even when I want to run away. That is what Christianity is about, a great God, full of love, who is willing to do anything to reach us.
He promises that no matter where we are or what we’ve done, we are His masterpiece and the object of His greatest affection. There is no boundary too strong for Him. No fear. No shame. No sin. No defeat. He even crossed the boundary between heaven and earth and human flesh and bones to save us.
Andrew: When I look at Scripture and what Jesus said, I wonder what the song is that God’s singing over us. In our minds, God is singing to come back to Him—no matter how old we are.
Many times, we can feel like we don’t have much value. But we’re God’s masterpieces. The heart of We The Kingdom is to create music that conveys how God has reached into the middle of our brokenness and has drawn us into His story of redemption. Songs of testimony and worship have been a healing salve for us.
We want to share our journey with people with the hope that God will use that as a catalyst for healing others. Our hearts desire to see captives set free, relationships restored, and people brought to the cross. We pray that God would sew the thread of His promises through the stories of each song we write and weave together a tapestry that points straight to the great love of Jesus.
Lyrics
I'm standing at your door My heart is calling yours Come fall into My arms You're weary from it all Been running for too long I’m here to bring you home
I'm reaching out I'll chase you down I dare you to believe How much I love you now
Don't be afraid I am your strength We'll be walking on the water Dancing on the waves
Look up and lift your eyes
The future's open wide I have great plans for you Oh, yes, I do Your past is dead and gone Your healing has begun I'm making all things new, oh
I'm reaching out I'll chase you down I dare you to believe How much I love you now, oh
Don't be afraid I am your strength We'll be walking on the water Dancing on the waves
Can you see us Just dancing
I set every star into place So, you would remember My Name I made it all for you But you are My masterpiece You are the reason I sing This is My song for you
I set every star into place So, you would remember My Name I made it all for you My love, My love But you are My masterpiece You are the reason I sing This is My song for you
I'm reaching out I'll chase you down I dare you to believe How much I love you now Oh, I love you
Don't be afraid Know that I am your strength We'll be walking on the water Dancing on the waves
We're walking on the water Dancing on the waves
Closing Thoughts
“Dancing on the Waves” celebrates the freedom God promises us in His Holy Word, the Bible. 2 Corinthians 5:17 says, "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."
Christians are new creations on the inside. God wants us to believe in the freedom that we have on the cross of Jesus. We're free from our fears, addictions, insecurities, as well as our perfectionism. Jesus died to set us free from the battle of our minds—from sin and death. What a wonderful, encouraging truth.
Jesus wants you to live and have abundant life in Him. And, because of what Jesus did on the cross, He sees you as holy, righteous, redeemed, chosen, known, and forgiven—no matter what you’ve done. If you put all your hope and trust in Jesus, there's nothing that can separate you from His love.
"Dancing on the Waves" is an expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us as His followers. He's all we need. Know that being His is enough.
We're all in need of God to fix our beautiful messes in some way. The beauty of grace is that it's freely given, not something we deserve or earn. The Holy Spirit gives us a new life. Believing the words of this song is a great way to work on the disciplines of self-examination and prayer. Faith is when we are empty of ourselves and filled with Him and His Holy Spirit.
A Bible verse that references the dance we are having with God is Zephaniah 3:17. It moves me to soak in the truth that our God sings over us. I can’t get enough of the worshipful lyrics, “Look up and lift your eyes/The future's open wide, I have great plans for you/Oh, yes I do/Your past is dead and gone, your healing has begun/I'm making all things new.” 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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