Chris McClarney - What A Friend Lyrics
Lyrics
I’ve never heard You say
What have you done for me lately?
What have you done to earn my grace?
I’ve never heard You speak
Anything but Your love for me
Anything but identity
Chorus:
What a friend I’ve found in You, Jesus
What a friend I’ve found in You
When no one else could keep their promise
I can always count on You
You’ve only made me feel
That I was welcome in Your house
That I was honored and adored
You’ve seen me at my worst
But You’ve never held it against me
You’re running to me when I return
You’ve been my savior
You’ve been my shield
You’ve been my defender on the battlefield
You’ve been my Father
You’ve been my rock
You’ve been my portion
You’re more than enough
You’ve been my shelter
You’ve been my strength
You’ve been my provider again and again
You’ve been my redeemer
And I can’t comprehend
How the God of creation
Would call me His friend
Video
Chris McClarney - What A Friend (Live)
Meaning & Inspiration
Chris McClarney's "What A Friend," released on November 1, 2019, as part of the *Fill This Place - EP*, delivers a profound and intimate meditation on the unwavering faithfulness of Jesus. The song doesn't just praise a distant deity; it articulates a deeply personal relationship, a bond characterized by unconditional love and steadfast presence. At its core, the piece reveals the contrast between imperfect human relationships and the perfect, unchanging friendship offered by Christ, serving as a beacon of comfort and assurance for anyone seeking solace and acceptance.
The opening lines immediately set a tone of radical grace, proclaiming an experience where God never questions our worth or demands performance. McClarney sings of never hearing God ask, "What have you done for me lately?" or "What have you done to earn my grace?" This sentiment directly challenges the human tendency to believe love must be earned, echoing the biblical truth found in Romans 5:8, where God demonstrates His love for us "while we were still sinners." This grace is further emphasized as the narrative continues, asserting that God speaks "anything but Your love for me," consistently affirming identity rather than stripping it away. This resonates deeply with passages like Jeremiah 31:3, which speaks of an "everlasting love," and 1 John 4:10, reminding us that love originates not from our efforts to love God, but from His prior love for us. Our identity, then, is not self-derived but is graciously given in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17).
The central declaration of the chorus — "What a friend I’ve found in You, Jesus... When no one else could keep their promise, I can always count on You" — encapsulates the entire message. It highlights the unique reliability of Jesus' friendship against the backdrop of human fallibility. While earthly promises often falter, God’s covenant love endures, a truth consistently affirmed throughout Scripture, particularly in Proverbs 18:24 which speaks of a friend who sticks closer than a brother, and John 15:15 where Jesus Himself calls His disciples friends, revealing the depth of His relationship with humanity. This reliability isn't just a comfort; it’s a foundational certainty for life.
The song continues to build on this theme of divine acceptance, expressing the feeling of being "welcome in Your house" and "honored and adored." This imagery draws parallels to the warmth of God’s hospitality, a concept familiar from Psalm 23:6, where believers are promised to "dwell in the house of the Lord forever," and Hebrews 4:16, inviting us to approach God’s throne of grace with confidence. Even when confronting personal failings, the song asserts that God has "seen me at my worst, but You’ve never held it against me." This forgiveness is powerfully illustrated by the image of God "running to me when I return," a poignant echo of the father’s unconditional welcome to his Prodigal Son in Luke 15:20, and the boundless mercy described in Psalm 103:10-12, where transgressions are removed as far as the east is from the west.
The latter part of the song transforms into a cascade of declarations, each line attributing a vital role to Jesus: "Savior," "shield," "defender," "Father," "rock," "portion," "shelter," "strength," "provider," and "redeemer." These are not mere titles but profound descriptions of God's multifaceted relationship with His people, each carrying deep biblical weight. He is our Savior (Titus 3:5), our Shield and Defender (Psalm 18:30, Psalm 59:1), our Father (Romans 8:15), our Rock (Psalm 18:2), our Portion (Psalm 73:26), our Shelter and Strength (Psalm 46:1, Psalm 91:2), our Provider (Philippians 4:19), and our Redeemer (Isaiah 44:24). This comprehensive list illustrates the totality of God’s care and intervention in every aspect of life, demonstrating His complete sufficiency. The profound wonder of it all culminates in the final lines, expressing an inability to fully grasp "How the God of creation would call me His friend." This humbling realization of divine friendship, offered by the Creator of the universe, is the song's ultimate revelation—a mystery of grace that invites awe and deep gratitude, reminding us of the incredible privilege of knowing such a faithful, loving, and ever-present friend in Jesus. The song serves as an inspiring anthem for all who seek to draw closer to the heart of God, offering reassurance and renewed hope in His unfailing love.