Faith Worship Arts – The Lifter

“Faith Worship Arts is the worship movement of Faith Assembly in Orlando Fl. Under the leadership of Pastor John Dreher, FWA reaches out to people of various ages and backgrounds, aiming to go beyond traditional church settings to spread the message of Jesus Christ universally.

With a passion for creativity and worship, FWA’s greatest desire is to help individuals encounter Jesus in a real and authentic way. The songs they write are the manifestation of that desire and are used to reach the hearts of all ages.”

Source: Faith Worship Arts’ YouTube Channel

They released six albums, including:

• Greater Things (Live) (2016)
• Strong Tower (2017)
• He Is Here (2022)
• Hearts Ablaze (2023)
• Let Him Work (2024)
• Hark (Hear the Angels Sing) (2024)

Fill This House (Live) will be released shortly after this review.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song’s primary message centers on Jesus’ words in Matthew 11 where He says (NASB):

“Come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is comfortable, and My burden is light.”

Faith Worship Arts also says that God is:

• Loving
• The only source of hope
• Good in His ways
• Liberator to those held captive by sin and shame
• Incomparably awesome

In response, Faith Worship Arts trust, relies on, and yields to God.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

As Ducky in The Land Before Time would say, “yep yep yep”.

The lyrics do not contain a Verse/Chorus/Bridge structure.  Therefore, I will assign stanzas to each paragraph.

Side Note: Although this song contains ad-libs, they are neither transcribed nor add nor take anything away from the official lyrics.

[Stanza 1]

Here at Your feet, I lay my worries
The load I’ve carried, I rest in You
I cast the burden on your shoulders
There’s nothing better than trusting You

This has Matthew 11:28-30 language written all over it.

[Stanza 2]

So I will abide in the shadow of your love

Most likely a reference to Psalm 91:1, with “abiding in the shadow of your love” meaning “abiding in You”.

For You are the hope that can hold my heart

God is Faith Worship Arts’ hope (Jeremiah 29:11, Psalm 33:20, Psalm 39:7, Psalm 62:5, Isaiah 40:31, Isaiah 41:10, Matthew 11:28-30, Romans 5:1-8, Romans 8:24-39, Romans 15:13, 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, and 1 Peter 1:3-6).

[Stanza 3]

All who are weary and crushed by the weight
Can come to The Lifter and trade all their shame
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
And I will find rest in Your love everytime

See commentary on Stanza 1.

Line 2 describes the great exchange, migrating from a dead man, fallen in sin, to a spiritually-awakened individual, alive in Christ, with all the joy that comes with it (Romans 6:1-11, Romans 7:4-6, Galatians 2:19-20, 2 Timothy 2:11, and 1 Peter 2:24).

[Stanza 4]

When days are hard and times are trying
I will remember Your ways are good

Combines enduring trials and tribulations (Romans 5:3-5, Hebrews 12:4-11, and James 1:2-4) with the goodness of God’s actions (Exodus 33:19, Psalm 13:6, Psalm 23:6, Psalm 27:13, Psalm 31:19, Psalm 34:8, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 100:5, Psalm 107:1, Psalm 118:29, Psalm 119:68, Psalm 145:9, Matthew 7:11, Mark 10:18, Luke 11:13, Luke 18:19, Romans 2:4, Philippians 1:6, James 1:17, and 1 Peter 2:1-3).

You are the God of my tomorrow

God’s plans for Faith Worship Arts are hopeful (Jeremiah 29:11).

So I’m just gonna let go and lean on You

Faith Worship Arts surrenders to God (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).

[Stanza 5]

All who are weary and crushed by the weight
Can come to The Lifter and trade all their shame
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
And I will find rest in Your love everytime

Repeats Stanza 3.

[Stanza 6]

No matter how heavy the load starts to feel
Lord, what You require, I’m able to bear
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
And I will find rest in Your love everytime

See commentary on Stanza 1.  Also, lines 3 and 4 repeat Stanza 1, lines 3 and 4.

[Stanza 7]

You take the heavy burden
You set the captive free
You lift the weight off of my soul
That’s what you do, Lord

See commentary on Stanza 1.  Also, line 2 references Isaiah 61:1 and Luke 4:18.

[Stanza 8]

The joy of my salvation
The source of all my peace
No other love like this
I know That’s who you are, Lord

For all other pursuits is rubbish by comparison (Philippians 3:8-10).

[Stanza 9]

You take the heavy burden
You set the captive free
You lift the weight off of my soul
That’s what you do, Lord

Repeats Stanza 7.

[Stanza 10]

The joy of my salvation
The source of all my peace
No other love like this
I know That’s who you are, Lord

Repeats Stanza 8.

[Stanza 11]

All who are weary and crushed by the weight
Can come to The Lifter and trade all their shame
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
And I will find rest in Your love everytime

Repeats Stanza 3.

[Stanza 12]

No matter how heavy the load starts to feel
Lord, what You require, I’m able to bear
For Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light
And I will find rest in Your love everytime

Repeats Stanza 6.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Despite this song’s heavy reliance on Scriptural phraseology, much of the deeper concepts described by Faith Worship Arts are repeated in other lyrics in simpler terms, easing interpretation.  For example, Stanza 7 explains the meaning of “Your yoke is easy, Your burden is light”.  The words “Lord” and “God”, combined with the yoke concept I described earlier, points unbelievers to a Christian interpretation.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God as the One who eases and lifts burdens, whose goodness radiates and servants trust Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Faith Worship Arts’ The Lifter is great.  It drills on the famous Matthew 11 passage, that the weary can trust Christ amid their burdened and weary lives.  He will give rest, hope, and fill with His goodness.  These bring Him glory.  Unbelievers should be able to piece together a similar interpretation.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: The Lifter (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: Faith Worship Arts

Album: Fill This House (Live)

Genre: Hymn

Release Year: Will be released 2025

Duration: 5:52

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