Matt Redman & Tasha Cobbs Leonard – Gracefully Broken

Matt Redman is a household name, humbly beginning with his band Soul Survivor at the ripe old age of 15.  He left his band to pursue his solo career, releasing 14 studio albums and 4 live albums.  This doesn’t include compilation albums.

He won numerous awards, including two Grammy’s, ten Dove’s, and one Cranmer Award for his work.

Also, check out my other Matt Redman reviews.

Tasha Cobbs Leonard is a solo Gospel artist, formerly leading worship at Dream Center Church in Atlanta, Georgia.  She currently serves as a worship leader at Relentless Church in Greenville, South Carolina.  She released seven albums, including:

• Smile (2010)
• Grace (2013)
• One Place: Live (2015)
• Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (2017)
• Heart. Passion. Pursuit.: Live at Passion City Church (2018)
• Smile (Reissued Live) (2019)
• Royalty (Live at the Ryman) (2020)

She has received 18 awards for her work, including nine GMA Dove, one Grammy, three Billboard, and five ASCAP Rhythm & Soul.

Side Note: Both of these artists are co-authors.  Although Matt Redman has a version of this song that features Tasha Cobbs Leonard, she also has a version that contains additional lyrics.  Since they were released on the same day, I’ll review her version as it includes an Intro that explains the song’s title.  Although I am reviewing Cobbs Leonard’s version of the song, references to “I”, “me”, etc. will include both artists.

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?

Redman and Cobbs Leonard’s prayer is that God would discipline us not because He’s out to harm us, but so that we could become better obedient servants like they are.  They are thankful that God uses them for His glory, people who yield to His will and possess His strength manifest inside them.  It is for these reasons that they praise Him.

Side Note: To those annoyed by massive repetition, Bridge 2 contains essentially four repeats of the same four lines.

Score: 10/10

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

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Intro]

God will break you to position
He will break you to promote you
And break you to put you in your right place
But when He breaks you He doesn’t hurt you, He doesn’t
When He breaks you He doesn’t destroy you, He does it with; grace

Describes God’s discipline that, though it is painful at the time, yields the perfect fruits of righteousness (Hebrews 12:4-11).

Anybody been gracefully broken?
Thank You, Lord, thank You

A question posed to the audience asking if they have experienced God’s discipline.

So Father tonight, we’re broken before You

Acknowledges our sinful state apart from God (Psalm 14:1-3, Psalm 53:1-3, Job 15:14, Ecclesiastes 7:20, Jeremiah 17:9, Romans 3:10, Romans 3:23, and 1 John 1:8-10).

Thank You for handling us with grace

Gratitude that God grants us undeserved favor (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).

Just lift your worship right there in this moment

We worship God with all of our hearts (Psalm 86:12, Psalm 103:1-2, Psalm 103:22, Psalm 119:10, and Psalm 138:1).

[Verse 1]

Take all I have in these hands
And multiply, God, all that I am
And find my heart on the altar again
Set me on fire, set me on fire

Redman and Cobbs Leonard surrender their wants, desires, and will to align with God’s (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).

Take all I have in these hands
And multiply, God, all that I am
And find my heart on the altar again
Set me on fire, set me on fire

Repeats line 1.

[Chorus]

Here I am, God
Arms wide open
Pouring out my life

See Verse 1.

Gracefully broken

This term is explained in Intro, lines 1-5.

[Verse 2]

My heart stands in awe of Your name

Much like David in Psalm 27:4 and Psalm 65:8, Redman and Cobbs Leonard are captivated by God’s wonders, desiring to gaze upon His beauty.

Your mighty love stands strong to the end

As proven by the cross (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:10-12).

You will fulfill Your purpose in me

Redman and Cobbs Leonard are called to a holy life for God’s purposes (2 Timothy 1:10).

You won’t forsake me, You will be with me

God does not abandon Redman or Cobbs Leonard (Deuteronomy 31:6, Joshua 1:8-9, 1 Chronicles 28:20, Psalm 118:6, Lamentations 3:22-23, and Hebrews 13:5-6).

[Bridge 1]

All to Jesus now
All to Jesus now
I’m holding nothing back
Holding nothing back
I surrender (I surrender)
Y’all throw your hands up and sing I surrender (I surrender)
Say I surrender (I surrender)
All that I am, I surrender (I surrender)
Have Your way, use me Lord, I surrender (I surrender)
Do Your will, it’s all Your way, I surrender (I surrender)
Use my life for Your glory, say I surrender all (I surrender)
You want to tell [Him?] right where you are (I surrender)

Repetition aside, the entire thing echoes Verse 1, lines 1-4.

[Bridge 2]

(Oh) Your power at work in me

Background singers summon Casper the friendly ghost while Redman and Cobbs Leonard point us to God’s power manifest in them (Nehemiah 8:10, Psalm 22:19, Psalm 28:7-8, Psalm 46:1, Psalm 118:14, Isaiah 12:2, Isaiah 33:2, Isaiah 40:29-31, Habakkuk 3:19, 2 Corinthians 12:9-10, Ephesians 3:16, Ephesians 6:10, and Philippians 4:13).

(Oh) I’m broken gracefully

Another Casper cat-call followed by essentially repeating Chorus, line 4.

(Oh) I’m strong when I am weak

Essentially repeats line 1.

(Oh, ooh-oh) I will be free

More Casper noises as Redman and Cobbs Leonard describe their freedom in Christ (Psalm 119:45, Isaiah 58:6, Isaiah 61:1, John 3:16-21, John 8:31-36, John 10:10, Acts 13:38-39, Romans 6:1-23, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 8:20-21, 1 Corinthians 6:12, 1 Corinthians 7:21-23, 2 Corinthians 3:17, Galatians 2:4, Galatians 3:13, Galatians 3:22, Galatians 5:1, Galatians 5:13, Colossians 1:21-23, Hebrews 2:14-15, and 1 Peter 2:16 ).

(Oh, ooh-oh) Your power at work in me
(Oh, ooh-oh) I’m broken gracefully
(Oh, ooh-oh) I’m strong when I am weak
(Oh, ooh-oh) I will be free
(Oh, ooh-oh) Your power at work in me
(Oh, ooh-oh) I’m broken gracefully
(Oh, ooh-oh) I’m strong when I am weak
(Oh, ooh-oh) I will be free
(Oh, ooh-oh) Your power at work in me
(Oh, ooh-oh) I’m broken gracefully
(Oh, ooh-oh) I’m strong, I’m strong
(Oh, ooh-oh) I will be free

Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1-4.

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Redman and Cobbs Leonard explicitly state God and Jesus as their object of surrender and worship, making it easy for unbelievers to interpret this as Christian.  In short, God will mold Christians into vessels for His purpose and use.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God and Jesus as the One who corrects Redman and Cobbs Leonard, His servants who submit to Him.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Matt Redman & Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s Gracefully Broken is praiseworthy.  It compels us to yield to His ways, allowing Him to shape and mold us to become His faithful, strong, and grace-filled servants, glorifying Him.  Unbelievers should easily have similar thoughts.

I highly recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: Gracefully Broken (listen to Matt Redman’s version or Tasha Cobbs Leonard’s version)

Artist: Matt Redman & Tasha Cobbs Leonard

Album: Glory Song (Matt Redman), Heart. Passion. Pursuit. (Tasha Cobbs Leonard)

Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)

Release Year: 2017

Duration: 5:51 (Matt Redman), 6:17 (Tasha Cobbs Leonard)

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*Copyright © 2017 Thankyou Music Ltd (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding the UK & Europe which is adm. at IntegratedRights.com) / Jesus Culture Music (ASCAP) Jesus Culture Music Group (BMI) Son of the Lion (BMI) Meadowgreen Music Company (ASCAP) worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP) sixsteps Music (ASCAP) Said And Done Music (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Genesis (ASCAP) Capitol CMG Paragon (BMI) Tasha Cobbs Music Group (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.