Lyrics
Verse 1
Yeah, I like it easy
But that's not how it's been
I'm at that part of the movie when the good guy might not win
Did I take a wrong turn?
Why do You have me here?
I want that happy ending
Not this one where I'm in tears
And yeah we both know
Chorus
If it was up to me
There'd be no gravel roads
No wounds, no blisters on my soul
Pain might come, but it wouldn't come for me
If it was up to me
I'd take the easy ride
But I'd miss the grace that changed my life
Thank God I'm not the one in charge of things
I'd never know how good Your plans could be
If it was up to me
Verse 2
If it was up to me I'd never taste the grace
That meets me where I am
Or meet the God who came and picked me up and taught me how to stand
He always has a purpose
Through the joy and suffering
I'd be crazy not to trust Him
With everything
Cause
Chorus
If it was up to me
There'd be no gravel roads
No wounds, no blisters on my soul
Pain might come, but it wouldn't come for me
If it was up to me
I'd take the easy ride
But I'd miss the grace that changed my life
Thank God I'm not the one in charge of things
I'd never know how good Your plans could be
If it was up to me
If it was up to me
Bridge
Your ways are higher
Your ways are higher
You know what You're doing with me
Your ways are higher
Your ways are higher
Put me where You want me to be
Yeah
We both know
Chorus
If it was up to me
There'd be no gravel roads
No wounds, no blisters on my soul
Pain might come, but it wouldn't come for me
(No, it wouldn't come for me)
If it was up to me
I'd take the easy ride
But I'd miss the grace that changed my life
Thank God I'm not the one in charge of things
I'd never know how good Your plans could be
If it was up to me
(Up to me)
Outro
Yeah
If it was up to me
(Yeah)
If it was up to me
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
"If It Was Up To Me" is an honest song about wishing for an easier road and then trusting God's wisdom instead. The first verse admits "I like it easy," sits in the "part of the movie when the good guy might not win," and asks "Why do You have me here?" The chorus imagines a life without "gravel roads" or "blisters on my soul," then flips the thought: "Thank God I'm not the one in charge of things."
The reason given is that an easy ride would cost the singer the grace that changed their life. The second verse says that without hardship the singer would never "meet the God who came and picked me up and taught me how to stand," and concludes that trusting Him "With everything" is the sensible choice.
The bridge sums up the stance with the repeated line "Your ways are higher." That phrase echoes the prophet Isaiah, and the idea of purpose within suffering parallels Paul's teaching that God works all things for good and James's call to count trials as joy.
Related Scripture
- Isaiah 55:8-9 God says His ways and thoughts are higher than human ways and thoughts.
- Romans 8:28 God works all things together for good for those who love Him.
- James 1:2-3 Trials are said to produce steadfastness.