Tauren Wells – God’s Not Done With You

American Christian pop and rock artist Tauren Wells began his career in 2004.  He is currently a lead pastor in Joel Olsteen’s Lakewood Church.  He released three albums and two EP’s, including:

• Undefeated (EP, 2016)
• Hills and Valleys (2017)
• Conocido (EP, 2019)
• Citizen of Heaven (2020)
• Citizen of Heaven (Live) (2021)

Wells won four GMA Dove Awards, including  New Artist of the Year (2017), Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year (2020), Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Citizen of Heaven, 2020), and Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (Famous For (I Believe), 2021).

Also, check out my reviews of Famous For (I Believe), Hills and Valleys and Known.

Lyrics can be found at https://genius.com/Tauren-wells-gods-not-done-with-you-lyrics.

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.  I strongly encourage you to consider the potential blessings and dangers of this artist‘s theology by visiting Resources.

1. What message does the song communicate?

This song is about God’s transformative power.  While we believers sometimes feel trounced and ineffective, Wells reminds us that God’s work in us is not over.  He still has more for us to do, despite our flaws.

My chief complaint is that this song only presents half a message. Transformation requires a combination of God’s guidance and our willingness to respond. We cannot expect God to do all the work while we sit back and do nothing. Yes, it’s true that God’s power transforms us into better people. However, aside from instructing us to avoid hiding, Wells fails to mention our responsibility. Namely, our obedience and worship. This has the potential to lull believers into stagnation, that God will not make demands on our lives.

Another concern is Verse 2, lines 1 and 2, which says, “There’s​ a light you don’t see until you’re standing in the dark”. Wells is not clear what means by “a light”. Is he talking about God? If so, why state God’s light the impersonal “a light” and not the personal “the Light”? Also, while light is more observable in darkness than not, it doesn’t mean that we must necessarily “stand in the dark” to take notice. We are continually aware of God’s Light by engaging in daily prayer, Bible reading, worship, and time with believers.

Score: 6/10

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

While most of this song has Biblical support, it would do much better Biblically to include information about our response to God’s grace, including submission and praise. Also, Verse 2, lines 1 and 2 are confusing when stating the light of God is only noticeable amid darkness.

NOTES: As of this review, in the Genius link above, Chorus 3 is missing the first two lines:

“God’s not done with you
Even with your broken heart and your wounds and your scars“.

Also, Outro is missing line 2: “God’s not done writing your story“.

Since Chorus 2 and Chorus 3 essentially repeat Chorus 1, I did not include them in my review.  I left the title “Chorus 1” to see it within Genius.  However, I included the missing Outro, line 2, as though the Genius page has it.  Finally, I submitted a request to Genius to update the lyrics.

[Intro]

Line 1: A call to Casper the friendly ghost.

Line 2: Repeats line 1.

[Verse 1]

Lines 1-6: Describes troubled souls who embraced Christ and feels defeated.  Wells comes alongside us, encouraging us to stop focusing on our problems.  Instead, we should fix their eyes on Jesus, that He endured hostility on our behalf and that we should not lose heart (Hebrews 12:2-3).

[Chorus 1]

Lines 1 and 2: Bridge will later clarify the sense in which God is not done with us.  Namely, that transforming us from wayward sinners to obedient saints is His work (1 Samuel 10:9, Psalm 51:10, Jeremiah 24:7, Ezekiel 11:19, Ezekiel 36:26, Romans 2:29, Romans 12:2, 2 Corinthians 5:17, and 2 Corinthians 7:10).

Line 3: Repeats line 1.

Line 4: Essentially repeats the same idea as line 2.

Line 5: Repeats line 1.

Line 6: Essentially repeats the same idea as line 1.

Line 7: Considering that we can’t run from God (Psalm 139:7-12), Wells’ advice is sound.  Jonah tried and failed (Jonah 1:1-17).  We will too.

Lines 8-10: A stretched-out version of line 1.

[Verse 2]

Lines 1 and 2: This is unclear.  If we assume God’s light, Yes, it’s true that God’s light shines more noticeably in the dark as it drives out darkness (Psalm 107:10-16, Luke 1:79, John 1:1-13, John 12:46, Ephesians 5:8, Colossians 1:13, and 1 Peter 2:9).  However, devotion to God and Godly people help us to sense God’s light, whether we are in darkness or not.  If “a light” is not God’s light, what does Wells mean?

Lines 3 and 4: As we engage in said spiritual practices, we become increasingly able to wield God’s strength amid fleshy weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:8-10).

Line 5: Essentially repeats Intro, line 1.

[Bridge]

Lines 1 and 2: God plans to finish the good work in us that He started (Philippians 1:6).

Lines 3 and 4: Repeats lines 1 and 2.

Line 5: Essentially repeats Chorus 1, line 1.

Line 6: This line explains Chorus 1, lines 1 and 2.  God writing our story is another way of saying God changes the trajectory of our lives.

Lines 7-9: Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus 1, line 1.

[Outro]

Line 1: God.

Line 2: Repeats Bridge, line 6.

Lines 3 and 4: Repeats/essentially repeats Chorus 1, line 1.

Score: 7/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Unbelievers will likely conclude that God’s power rests upon His followers, that He will make them better people.  However, aside from hearing this in a church context, examining the artist’s profile, and listening to this song on Christian radio, nothing in these lyrics will point them towards Christianity, as opposed to another personal deity such as Allah or Vishnu.  I am greatly concerned that those outside Christianity who hear these words will think they can follow Jesus without being challenged to change.

Score: 4/10

4. What does this song glorify?

While it glorifies God that He works good through us, not addressing our responsibility potentially leads to lukewarm living, marring God’s glory.  As does ambiguity and potential issues surrounding “a light” in Verse 2.

Score: 6/10

Closing Comments

Tauren Wells’ God’s Not Done With You is inspiring, though not without flaws.  I applaud Wells’ encouragement, that God’s plan for us includes His power that transforms us into useful servants.  If we focus on Jesus instead of the darkness, this will better equip us for change.  However, his song would improve greatly by addressing our part in the sanctification process, namely, that God expects obedience from us.  Without this, I am deeply concerned that this song might lead others astray, thinking that God does all the work while we contribute nothing to our personal growth.

I cannot recommend this song for corporate worship.

Final Score: 6/10

Artist Info

Track: God’s Not Done With You (listen to the song)

Artist: Tauren Wells

Album: Hills and Valleys

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2017

Duration: 3:33

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