Lyrics
Verse 1
When everything you ever worked for, Lord, it's gone in a second
When life throws you a curve, you can't bend, oh no
When everyone has turned against you, all of your friends,
Your so-called friends forsake you
When there's nothing left but God, that's all you need
Verse 2
When hell, hell breaks loose
And it looks like no way to
When everyone that you're relying on, now relying on you, oh yeah
When destruction is always destroying
Child and the devil, the devil sends you through
When there's nothing left but God, that's all you need, oh yeah
Chorus
He's the life that you live, He's the breath that He gives
He's the joy that He brings
I want to tell ya, He's your everything, hey, hey, hey
He's the peace that He gives
And that ain't all, He's the healer, that He is
When there's nothing left but God, child
That's all you need
Bridge
You can't get too low
You can't be too down
He'll get down there with you, He'll pick up the pieces for you
My Lord, you can start all over again
You got love and you got peace
That's all you need is Jesus
Chorus
He's the life that you live, He's the breath that He gives
He's the joy that He brings
I want to tell ya, He's your everything, hey, hey, hey
He's the peace that He gives
And that ain't all, He's the healer, that He is
When there's nothing left but God, I want to tell you right now,
That's all you need
Outro
When there's nothing left but God, that's all you need
Video
Meaning & Inspiration
Candi Staton delivers "When There's Nothing Left But God" as a testimony for people whose circumstances have collapsed. The verses list the losses plainly: work gone in a second, friends who walk away, trouble that falls from every side, and people leaning on the singer while there is nothing left to give. After each list comes the same answer, "that's all you need."
The chorus names what God supplies: life, breath, joy, peace and healing. It is spoken in the direct, conversational style of gospel soul, with ad-libs such as "I want to tell ya" and "child." The bridge says that nobody can fall so low that He cannot get down there too, pick up the pieces and let a person begin again.
The song fits funerals, hospital visits and hard weeks alike, because it makes no promise that circumstances will change quickly. It only claims that Jesus is enough. The page presents the verses, chorus and bridge in the order of the recorded performance.
Related Scripture
- Psalm 73:26 God remains the strength of the heart and a portion forever when everything else fails.
- Psalm 34:18 The Lord is near to the brokenhearted, matching "He'll get down there with you".
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 Grace is enough when strength is gone, the same claim as "that's all you need".
- Isaiah 41:10 A promise of help and presence when friends and resources fail.