UPPERROOM (Feat. Elyssa Smith) – You Satisfy

UPPERROOM is a church-based band, much as the same structure as Hillsong, Elevation Worship, and Bethel Music.  Their church of the same name is based in Dallas, Texas.

They released thirteen works, including:

• God You Are (2014)
• Live from Upper Room (2016)
• Made for More (2016)
• Center of Your Love (EP, 2017)
• Moments (2018)
• Moments II (2018)
• Moments: Color 003 (2019)
• Moments: Design 004 (EP, 2019)
• To The One (2019)
• Santo Espíritu (Te Amamos) (2020)
• Land of the Living (2020)
• Arbor (2021)
• Move Your Heart (EP, 2021)

Also, check out my reviews of I Thank God, Move Your Heart, Getting Ready, and Surrounded (Fight My Battles).

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?

UPPERROOM and us Christians desire the true and eternally living God for fulfillment, not a fake version or the things of this world.  God delivers in spades, living up to one of His many names: Provider.  His lovingkindness and Presence permeate our parched souls in ways we cannot fathom.

We respond to God’s desire to know Him personally, deeply, relationally by spending time with Him.  Each encounter leaves us changed people, growing in sanctification.  He fills us with the Holy Spirit that Jesus promised to those who follow Him.

Score: 10/10

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

This song is 100% Biblical.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Come, just as You are to us

UPPERROOM invites God to come as He is, not as some made-up deity that would deceive them, incurring judgment (2 Thessalonians 2:11-12).  They want the Truth (John 14:6), not a lie.

Always so strong, Your love
It’s who You are

God is love (1 John 4:8), and His love is powerful as it casts out fear (1 John 4:18).

For You satisfy everything
That this heart could need

The world does not satisfy UPPERROOM (Psalm 34:10, Proverbs 13:25, Isaiah 55:2, Isaiah 65:13-16, Hosea 4:10, and Micah 6:14-16).  Only God can satiate their thirsty souls (Psalm 34:10, Psalm 107:9, Jeremiah 31:25, and Revelation 7:16-17).

‘Cause it’s who You are

That is, Jehovah Jireh or “The LORD will provide” (Genesis 22:14).

[Pre-Chorus]

For You come in new ways
You come in ways we can’t explain

God’s ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:9 and Romans 11:31-36).

And we’re here to answer, Your prayer
And be made one with You

While this initially sounds unbiblical, our prayer is primarily about communication with God.  It seems reasonable, then, to think that God’s prayer is about communication with us.  He does that through the prophets (Hebrews 1:1), direct revelation (Hebrews 1:1), and Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16).

Also, take a look at Isaiah 56:7 in the original Hebrew.  It literally says, “in house of My prayer”.  Thus, the Bible says that God prays.

This begs the question: what prayer of God’s are we answering?  He wants all to be saved (Ezekiel 18:23, Matthew 23:37, 1 Timothy 2:4, and 2 Peter 3:9) and to have a personal relationship with Him; to be one with Him (John 15:1-11, Acts 17:27, Romans 8:15, Romans 11:16-24, and Philippians 3:8-10).

[Chorus]

‘Cause You satisfy my heart every time
You walk in the room

See Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

You satisfy my heart every time
Every time I’m with You

UPPERROOM considers all other things rubbish compared to the joy in knowing Christ (Philippians 3:8-10).

Side Note: The last iteration of Chorus contains an ad-libbed “Oh, there You are, Jesus”, clarifying the identity of “You”.

[Verse 2]

You have no end
And never a limit
Oh, You overflow
And this love it’s so vast

God is eternal (Deuteronomy 33:27, 1 Chronicles 16:34, Job 36:26, Psalm 48:14, Psalm 90:2-4, Psalm 102:12, Psalm 102:26-27, Proverbs 8:23, Isaiah 40:28, Isaiah 41:4, Habakkuk 1:12, John 17:5, Romans 1:20, 1 Corinthians 2:7, Ephesians 1:4, Hebrews 1:11-12, 1 Peter 1:20, 2 Peter 3:8, Revelation 1:8, Revelation 11:17, and Revelation 22:13).

I could never grasp
The depths of You

According to Romans 11:34 and 1 Corinthians 2:11, man cannot fully comprehend God’s thoughts or mind.

[Bridge 1]

Oh, what do I have need of?
Oh, what do I have need of?

Side Note: The song’s end contains a partial Bridge 1, where the line “Don’t be downcast, O my soul” is inserted here.  This phrase borrows from Psalm 43:5.

Oh, what do I have need of now that I know You?
I believe it, I believe it
Oh, there’s nothing I have need of, no
There’s nothing I have need of, I declare it
There’s nothing I have need of now that I know You, hey

UPPERROOM asks and answers a rhetorical question.  We are in need of nothing because knowing God satisfies us (see Verse 1, lines 4 and 5).

[Bridge 2]

‘Cause every time I’m with You
I never leave empty

See Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

Oh, every time I’m with You
I never leave empty (I know it’s true)
Every time I’m with You
I never leave empty, no-no-no

Essentially repeats lines 1 and 2.

[Spontaneous]

I’m leaving full of You tonight
I’m leaving full of You tonight, God

This is the same declaration found in Verse 1, lines 4 and 5.

Also, UPPERROOM provides another explicit identifying clarifier for “You”, namely, God.

You said You would do it
You said You would pour out Your Spirit on sons and daughters, oh

Yes, as stated in Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17, confirmed in Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, John 14:16-26, John 15:5-15, John 15:26, and John 16:7, and Acts 2:22, that Christ would send the Holy Spirit.  The Spirit now resides in us (Acts 6:5, Romans 8:9-11, 1 Corinthians 3:16, 1 Corinthians 6:16-19, Galatians 4:6, Ephesians 5:18, and 2 Timothy 1:14).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

Though this song initially sounds like a boyfriend, UPPERROOM left a few clues that make this interpretation difficult for unbelievers to receive.  This includes explicit mentions of God and Jesus, that “You” has no end, that we can’t fully understand “You”, and that “You” sends the Spirit to believers.

Unbelievers will likely conclude that God satisfies Christians in everything.  It might be difficult for them to believe, given the physical needs of Christians all over the world who lack shelter, food, and medicine; However, UPPERROOM’s message is clear.  Their song contains mostly common language, with a sprinkling of Christian terminology.

Score: 10/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God that UPPERROOM and the rest of us followers of Jesus are deeply satisfied by God’s Spirit and provision.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

UPPERROOM’s You Satisfy is satisfying.  It proclaims that the true and living eternal God will satiate our spiritual hunger and thirst, provide for our physical needs, and change us from the inside out, glorifying God.  While unbelievers might find this message difficult to believe, they should have little to no difficulty interpreting it.

I recommend it for corporate worship.

Final Score: 10/10

Artist Info

Track: You Satisfy (Live) (listen to the song)

Artist: UPPERROOM (Feat. Elyssa Smith)

Album: Live from Upper Room

Genre: Rock

Release Year: 2016

Duration: 8:08

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*Copyright © 2016 UR Creative (BMI) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com), Reaction Worship Songs (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.