Bethel Music + Kristene DiMarco + Kalley - Gravity Lyrics
Lyrics
This innocent idolatry
Not letting You in too deep
Because who knows if You can handle me
This innocent idolatry
I thought it made You proud of me
To keep my tears back behind my eyes
When did I decide
I’m not allowed to cry
Positivity can’t split these seas
And all my optimism won’t set this captive free
I need a King who hung on Calvary
I’ll always need a God who feels deeply
I need a God who knows the, the gravity
This innocent idolatry
I made You somehow just like me
Unable to sit in the suffering
This innocent idolatry
Movin’ too fast past my grief
When You are acquainted with what I’m carrying
When did I decide
I’m not allowed to cry
Positivity can’t split these seas
And all my optimism won’t set this captive free
I need a King who hung on Calvary
I’ll always need a God who feels deeply
I need a God who knows the gravity
Don’t let this truth be lost on me
My God He feels the gravity of everything
Video
Gravity (Official Lyric Video) - Brian & Jenn Johnson | After All These Years
Meaning & Inspiration
"Gravity," from Bethel Music and featuring the deeply affecting voices of Kristene DiMarco and Kalley, emerges as a profound spiritual statement, released into a world often desperate for authentic expression within faith. This song quickly grounds its listeners in a strikingly honest confrontation with personal vulnerability and the pervasive, yet often subtle, pressures within modern spirituality. It bypasses superficial platitudes, plunging straight into the heart of a common internal struggle, inviting a collective sigh of recognition from all who have ever felt the need to "put on a brave face" for God.
The song's core message brilliantly exposes what it terms "innocent idolatry"—a profound internal conflict where one unconsciously crafts a version of God, and of oneself, that avoids the messy realities of suffering and raw emotion. This isn't the worship of statues, but rather an idolatry of self-sufficiency, of a polished spiritual image, and of a divine being perceived as too fragile or too distant to truly "handle" human brokenness. The lyrics poignantly describe the false belief that "not letting You in too deep" or "keeping my tears back behind my eyes" somehow makes God proud, or that moving "too fast past my grief" is a sign of faith. This speaks to an unspoken pressure to always appear strong, positive, and unmoved by life's hurts, ironically creating a barrier to the very God who desires intimacy in our weakness. The realization that "When did I decide I’m not allowed to cry" serves as a gut-wrenching moment of self-discovery, laying bare the self-imposed limitations on our emotional and spiritual honesty.
This powerful narrative leads to a pivotal shift, declaring the utter futility of self-reliance: "Positivity can’t split these seas / And all my optimism won’t set this captive free." This line directly challenges the pervasive idea that a strong mindset alone can overcome spiritual or emotional bondage, resonating deeply with the biblical truth that human efforts are insufficient for salvation or true liberation. Scripture consistently reminds us that our strength is found not in ourselves, but in God alone (Philippians 4:13, 2 Corinthians 12:9). The song then articulates a desperate, yet hopeful, need for divine intervention: "I need a King who hung on Calvary." This declaration firmly anchors the message in the Christian narrative of redemption, identifying Jesus's sacrifice as the sole source of true freedom and healing, a truth found in passages like John 3:16 and Romans 5:8.
The profound yearning for "a God who feels deeply" and "knows the gravity" of our experience is where the song truly lands its emotional weight. This isn't a call for an impassive, stoic deity, but for a compassionate Creator intimately acquainted with our pain. The Bible consistently portrays a God who grieves, laments, and empathizes with His creation. Isaiah 63:9 states, "In all their distress he too was distressed," while Hebrews 4:15 assures us that we have "a high priest who is able to empathize with our weaknesses." Jesus Himself wept at the tomb of Lazarus (John 11:35), demonstrating that divine strength is not devoid of human emotion, but fully embraces it. The desire for a God who understands "the gravity of everything" speaks to His omniscient presence and compassionate heart, reminding us that no tear is unseen, no burden too heavy for Him to bear alongside us (Psalm 56:8, Matthew 11:28). The lyrics challenge us to abandon the pretense that God is too lofty for our suffering, instead inviting us into the truth that He is "acquainted with what I’m carrying."
"Gravity" is more than just a song; it's a vital invitation to authenticity and a powerful dismantling of the subtle lies that often masquerade as spiritual maturity. It encourages believers to shed the burdensome expectation of perpetual positivity and embrace the full spectrum of human emotion in their walk with God. The closing lines, "Don’t let this truth be lost on me / My God He feels the gravity of everything," serve as a final, resonant affirmation. They underscore the profound assurance that our God is not only mighty in power but also infinite in empathy, present in every moment, and fully aware of the full weight of our joys and our sorrows. This song liberates by reminding us that our God doesn't just tolerate our weakness; He intimately understands it, and through His Son on Calvary, He has already provided the ultimate answer to its deepest gravity.