The 16th chapter of my book, Worship Matters, is called “To Cherish God’s Presence.” I talk about how one of the effects of biblical corporate worship is a greater pursuit of God’s active presence. I wrote:
For many years I’ve sung spontaneous songs during corporate worship that I believe are a form of prophecy. They’re similar to a spoken prophetic impression from the Lord, only they’re sung, they rhyme, and are often sung “from God to us.” I’ve never believed for a moment that the words I sing are “word for word” from the Lord. That’s called Scripture. But these songs seem to consistently communicate in verse the Lord’s heart for a particular individual, group, or situation. The effect over the years has been an increased awareness of God’s care for his people.
The reason I’m mentioning this is that I sang two such songs at the recent NEXT conference. (If you’re interested in more thoughts on this topic, I did a post on spontaneous and prophetic songs two years ago.) The first song was for people with disabilities. Grant Layman, who oversaw the conference, mentioned to me before the Sunday night meeting that someone was going to be sharing a testimony of how God had met them in their disability. He said he was going to pray for those with disabilities, and asked if I thought the Lord might give me a song for them. I said yes. So I spent a few minutes beforehand praying for that group, and during the meeting sang the song below. You can listen to it or download it by clicking here.
Within the womb I formed you
I fashioned and made each part
I thought of your fingers, your hands and your feet
Your mouth, your lungs, your heart
Though you might think that you’re different
I made you the way that you are
So you could discover the God who made you
And find out all I am
And though you might think you have limitations
There are no limits with me
When you turn your eyes to my salvation
Finally you will see
In Me, you have all that you need
In Me, you have all that you need
In Me, you have all that you’ll ever need.
And I’ve heard each prayer that you’ve called out
“Why did you make me this way?”
You may not completely understand now
But there will be a day
When I make everything known to you
And what you don’t now understand
You will see that I”m wise and I’m mighty and good
Just like all my plans
And if you trust in the work of my Son
One day you will see
That I’ve made you the way you are
To draw your heart to me
To draw your heart to me.
I also sang a song for those battling the effects of sexual sin. I’ll post that tomorrow.
Through my tears this morning I want to say thank you. This song ministered to me in a very personal way. I have an 11 year old son with autism. God has been incredibly gracious to us and our hope has truly been and continues to be in His sovereign grace. My son has a young but growing relationship with Jesus Christ and although we face our share of difficulties, we are so grateful to God for making no mistakes in how He fashioned and formed our son. Thank you for this song and even considering those whom God has uniquely blessed with what we choose to call disabilities.
A beautiful prophetic expression of the Father’s heart for His children. Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for sharing this. I was at the NEXT conference and though I don’t have a disability exactly, I’ve had a lot of health problems for the last year and I’m not really sure what’s going on. The song really touched me and reminded me that God can use even things like this in my life. He is so good to us.
Bob,
This is wonderful. I just finished leading the music at a retreat for families with disabled children and this captures so much of what I was wanting those dear parents and their children to know and feel. Your post is also a great challenge to me to trust more in God’s leading in those situations. “In Me, you have all that you need.” Amen!
Thank you for being willing to share the songs God gives you! Even though they dont always directly apply to me, they are usually applicable to me. I remember you singing another song at a previous New Attitude or Next for people with disabilities or chronic medical problems and something that stuck out to me was “I can heal you, I have the power to take this away, but if you dont see it until you see Me will anything be changed?”
good stuff, Bob!
Noticed a small typo in the first paragraph. “I made [you] the way that you are” (need to add the word “you”).
Thanks, Dave. Corrected the typo.
I always love hearing God’s heart through the gift of prophecy whether spoken or sung. I also shared this with my mother (disabled by MS) to encourage her and continue pointing her toward God and His glorious Gospel in the midst of her condition.
Bob, thanks so much for sharing this. I get to lead worship every summer for Joni & Friends family camp, where dozens of families with a child or parent who is living with some form of disability come and spend a week being cared for, loved, and pampered. It’s such a beautiful week. As I read the words and heard you sing, a lot of their faces came to mind. Your song will help equip me to love them well with a God’s eye view of their situation. (Did you write the words down *before* you sang this?)
Bob-
I was preaching at the conference that Brad mentioned above. (He happens to be one of the most gifted lead-worshipers I have ever served with and wonderfully led us always to the cross.) And Brad is right in highlighting that tag in the song, “In Me, you have all that you need.” How glorious!
Our son teaches us that truth, well, pretty much every day… if we are willing to listen.
If he knew I was “talking” to you tonight, you know he would say, HI MR KAUFLIN!!
Thanks for the post, brother.
PWM
I was at NEXT and this song encouraged me so much. I don’t have disabilities or chronic illness although I’ve been struggling with a body that doesn’t work since about the age of 11, although doctors say I’m fine. This song was a wonderful reminder of God’s perfect sovereignty for me.
I also was able to pray during the song for my dear friends who were at NEXT as well who do struggle with disabilities and chronic illness. I am so grateful for the way God uses your prophetic gifting to bless us. Thank you!!
I got this song from 2 sources (Worship Matters and DesiringGod). I think there must be an undercurrent of dissatisfaction with the way God made us (read, “me”), but i strongly suspect that tons of people will identify with this song — lots of people have a difficult time accepting and rejoicing in our weaknesses, and disabilities as much as our “better qualities,” all of which come from our Loving Father. (see http://www.desiringgod.org/Blog/2474_bob_kauflins_song_for_those_with_disabilities/
Bob,
I’m the director of disability ministry at a church in So. CA. In October, we are partnering with another church in the area for an outreach event to individuals and families affected by disability. (a Luke 14 banquet with a Hoedown theme).
This song would be perfect! Is there anywhere to download it to an iPod or MP3 file or would you make the sheet music available to us?
Bob,
I was at NEXT and was deeply touched when you sang this song. I have struggled for a long time with health problems and have felt often less loved because of these problems. But it was like God was speaking directly to me as you sang. That He really does love me and He really does hear all my prayers and it really is for my good. And yes it has drawn me closer to Him. Thank you for allowing Our Lord to use you to minister to my heart. I am excited that I can download this song and listen when I need to be reminded of the truths you sang.
Bob, I was at Next and I want to thank you so much for doing this song! I have mild cerebral palsy just like Marie (the girl who shared her testimony) and have struggled for many years with why God gave me this disability. I am not a person who cries very easily but during Marie’s testimony I started getting tears in my eyes. When they had everyone who had a physical disability stand I started crying, and when you sang this song I was sobbing the entire time, holding onto the girl sitting next to me, because it was exactly what I needed to hear!
Bob,
I am a youth pastor and although I don’t work with a lot of kids with major disabilities I look at some junior high kids and think this song would be great for them! Is there a possibility of purchasing the sheet music?
Tears inevitably welled up from my eyes as I listened to the song and more tears overflowed while reading the lyrics. I will surely hold this as a blessing of dearest worth! I have an 11-yr old daughter who has autism and there was one incident in our walk together that I asked God “why you made my Bea this way?” and He comforted me with this Bible verse , John 9:3 ( “Neither this man nor his parents sinned”, said Jesus “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.”) and NOW with this prophetic song …giving more weight to the truth of God’s word! Thank you for sharing this song! God bless you from the CUTADS of the Philippines!
We are pastors at a church that has a focus on persons with disabilities and their families and those that give care to them. Our church just started a year ago. In our search for worship music and worship tracks that are used in our services, many of the tracks that are out there never have a person with a disability singing the songs, playing the instruments, participating in worship. We hope to change that in our services. Your song is unique and wonderful, but I wish you would produce it in a worship track so we could use it our worship as we minister to these wonderful and talented folks. God wants to use them.
Thanks, Susan and Duane. Since this was a spontaneous song, we didn’t create a music track to go with it. Thanks for serving those with disabilities and their families for the glory of the Savior!
Is there sheet music for this song?
No there’s not. Sorry!