Tell me are you feelin’
The heaviness I’m feelin’
Cuz the space between the word I read
And the world I see feels crazy
Are we being honest
Cuz if I’m being honest
I preach the news
More than gospel truth
And I don’t think twice about it
Maybe there’s a bigger picture
We’ve been missin
Something different
Ain’t talkin’ bout a
Sunday only
Actin’ holy
Easy kinda faith
Ain’t talkin bout a
Barely goin
Through the motions
Empty kinda praise
I’m talking bout a heart that looks like Jesus
Like His hands, like His feet
There’s one Way one Truth one Life that sets us free
That’s what we need
Faith to move the mountains
It ain’t about the mountains
It’s when the least of these
And the neighbor sees
That we genuinely love them
Maybe there’s a bigger purpose
we’ve been given
Something different
We need shelter for the orphan
Healing for the broken
Mercy and compassion
We need it
We need grace to be our banner
Love to be the standard
The only thing that matters
We need it
That's What We Need
That's What We Need Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Anne Wilson's song "That's What We Need" resonates deeply with a common struggle: the disconnect between the faith we read about and the world we experience daily. It opens with a vulnerable admission of feeling the weight of this tension, questioning the gap between spiritual truths and the reality observed around us. The lyrics honestly confront the tendency to focus on superficial aspects or preach rather than embodying the core principles of faith.
The song moves beyond critique to define the kind of faith that is truly necessary. It dismisses a passive, Sunday-only religiosity or empty, motion-driven praise. Instead, it champions a dynamic faith characterized by a heart that mirrors Jesus, demonstrated through action – His hands, His feet. This perspective emphasizes that the transformative power isn't merely in believing, but in living out that belief in a tangible way that reflects the singular path, truth, and life offered.
It highlights that true faith, powerful enough to overcome immense challenges, isn't ultimately about the challenges themselves, but about how we interact with others. The song underscores the importance of genuinely loving the vulnerable ("the least of these") and our neighbors, suggesting this active love is the visible fruit of authentic belief. It points to a larger purpose given, one focused on service and compassion.
The core message culminates in a clear declaration of what is truly needed: practical help for the vulnerable, comfort and restoration for those suffering, and the consistent practice of mercy and compassion. The song calls for grace to be the guiding principle and love the ultimate standard, asserting these as the only things that hold lasting significance. This call to action is presented not just as a suggestion, but as an essential requirement for meaningful faith today. The accompanying video for this song was released on May 4, 2022, visually complementing its message of active, outward-focused faith. The themes presented echo scriptural calls to live out faith through love and service, such as the instruction to love your neighbor as yourself (Matthew 22:39), the depiction of true religion involving care for orphans and widows (James 1:27), and the emphasis on faith being demonstrated by works (James 2:14-17).
