Switch, a student ministry of Life.Church. based in Edmond, Oklahoma, recently released their second full-length album, Better View, the follow-up to their full-length debut album, Symphony, which includes the hit title track. The new album includes the standout song, “Letting Go” and their latest radio single, “Perfection.”
A theme that Switch weaves throughout their mix of worship and upbeat pop songs is remembering our identity of who we are in Christ. Better View represents God's role in the life of the believer and our calling, as Corinthians 2 5:7 puts it, to “walk by faith and not by sight.” I spoke with Cassidy Estevez, Switch member and Ministry Leader of Worship Arts at Life.Church., about their catchy and poignant new single about identity, “Perfection.”
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I love that you have three daughters and I think this song’s message is one that women need to hear. The story, like many of our song stories, is inspired by what we hear from our students. One big story we hear is about insecurity around not just the way we look but also in how we measure up. Whether it’s in school or at work, we deal with insecurities.
We wanted to write a song that captured these very real feelings. The truth is that we aren’t meant to measure up to anything. We are meant to be in community with God, who created us in His image, exactly according to His perfect plan.
When God looks at us, He doesn’t see our mistakes, flaws, and everything we perceive as imperfections. He sees us exactly who He created us to be. And when we’re in a relationship with Him, He sees the image of His Son, who is perfecting us from the inside out, day by day.
What Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Romans 8:28(VOICE): “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.”
1 Samuel 16:7(ESV): “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”
1 Corinthians 13:12(NKJV): "For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known."
Psalm 139:14(NIV): "I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Your works are wonderful, I know that full well."
Psalm 139:17-18(NKJV): "How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; When I awake, I am still with You."
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."
Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV): "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight."
Philippians 1:6(NKJV): “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
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.
Philippians 4:6-7(NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Isaiah 55:8-9 (NKJV): "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts."
What is the takeaway message?
In the song, we wanted to capture the truth of who we are in Christ. When God sees us, He sees His creation. And, as we become more like Christ, He continues to transform us into His image. We become more perfected as we become more like Him.
I think the picture we have of seeing through a mirror dimly now and knowing God as we are known by Him is a beautiful picture that we are trying to capture in both the song and album.
In the past, we’ve talked before that we both love emo music, and I’ve felt all these things that I sing about in these verses, about whether I measure up and whether I am good enough and avoiding looking at myself in the mirror. All these insecurities, and, like you, being a recovering perfectionist, are all things I dealt with in high school and into college, and thinking I needed to be the best for other people for them to like me.
Part of our culture is this achievement mindset. Have I achieved the perfect body? Have I achieved the world’s standard of beauty? These are not what God has called us to. Those are fleeting things. They don’t matter, but they steal our time and attention. They don’t matter but knowing I am complete in the eyes of God is the most important.
“Perfection” is a good reminder of what truly matters in eternity. I want people to know that God loves them exactly the way they are. Go walk in that freedom. Don’t let culture’s demands burden you. Walk in God’s love. You are whole.
Lyrics
I keep finding myself fighting to avoid the mirror, the mirror I could use some help ’cause I don’t like what I see here, see here
Do I measure up Am I good enough What if I fail What if I can't do it well Will they walk away Will You walk away Do You think I’m worth it still
But when all I see are the flaws You see perfection Perfection Looking through this mess of a heart You see perfection Perfection Show me what’s behind Your eyes Don’t think I can trust in mine When all I see are the flaws You see perfection Perfection
I learn slowly but You’re teaching me to love myself, myself Starting to believe You want me like nobody else
I’ll never measure up But You are my enough Sometimes I fail Sometimes I can’t do it well But if they walk away You don’t walk away You tell me I’m worth it still
Closing Thoughts
God is love. We love because He first loved us. Have joy and worship loudly about the love of God in your life. His grace takes away anxiety, guilt, and shame. Know that being His is enough. In Cassidy’s vocals, I hear a sincere yearning for the Lord. A thankfulness in her heart for God's mercy and grace.
I'm completely convicted by the strong lyrics and find immense comfort in this song. The Bible says to trust in what God says about us, no matter how we feel about ourselves. In many areas in our lives, especially as we’ve faced this coronavirus pandemic, we spend a lot of time worrying, as well as living in fear and anxiety.
“perfection” is a daily prayer, asking God to come and change our hearts and our lives. Only Jesus can give us our identity. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us. He's all we need.
I sing this song to God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength. All of us can relate to these words in some way: “But when all I see are the flaws/You see perfection/Perfection/Looking through this mess of a heart/You see perfection/Perfection/Show me what’s behind Your eyes/Don’t think I can trust in mine/When all I see are the flaws/You see perfection/Perfection.”
Lay your doubts and struggles at the feet of Jesus, and He'll take them from you and release you from those burdens. God wants to hear from you. We're called as Christians to believe in the freedom that we have on the cross of Jesus. We're free from our addictions, insecurities, and perfectionism.
Jesus came to die for us so that we can all truly live in Him. While we can't see everything in our fallen world through life's mirror dimly obscuring grace and truth, there's nothing we can do except trust in His son, Jesus. His ways are higher than our ways. That’s how we can have a better view.
This song is a great reminder of the kind of heart we should have both as people valued by God and as Christians who can communicate our value to other people. For me, songs, such as "perfection," provide opportunities for God to whisper to me my identity. It's not found in what I do or don't do, but in who I am, and, more importantly, to whom I belong.
I pray the words of this song over my daughters, Natalie, Cassandra, and Bethany.
Cassidy writes and sings her breath, given to her by God, into anointed new songs for the church. You'll be blessed by this powerful song which is a stand-out anthem with a convicting declaration. We can all celebrate the truth behind this song.
We're fearfully, wonderfully, and perfectly made, and we can sing to God with all our hearts: “I learn slowly but You’re teaching me to love myself, myself/Starting to believe You want me like nobody else/I’ll never measure up/But You are my enough/Sometimes I fail/Sometimes I can’t do it well/But if they walk away/You don’t walk away/You tell me I’m worth it still.” Amen to that.
NRT Lead Contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time fan of Christian music, and an avid music 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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