Ellie Holcomb - Wonderfully Made Lyrics

Wonderfully Made

Wonderfully Made Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration

Ellie Holcomb's song "Wonderfully Made" opens with a relatable scene of late-night struggle, lying awake battling internal voices and persistent lies that circle in the mind. This sets the stage for a deep dive into the common human experience of shame and self-hatred, the feeling of being fundamentally flawed or inadequate. The raw honesty of the opening lines immediately connects with anyone who has faced such internal battles.

The core of the song lies in a powerful question and a hopeful alternative: "What if I saw me, the way that You see me?" and "What if I traded, this shame and self-hatred? For a chance at believing You?" This shifts the focus from introspection alone to considering a divine perspective. It proposes that freedom from internal negativity is possible by accepting a higher truth about one's identity. The question highlights the difficulty in aligning one's self-perception with this potentially revolutionary truth.

The central theme and title are directly drawn from a foundational biblical text, specifically Psalm 139. The lyrics explicitly reference being "knit me together in my mother's womb," and the declaration that "You say that I've never been hidden from You," and most significantly, "You say that I'm wonderfully, Wo-onderfully made." Psalm 139 is a meditation on God's omnipresence, omniscience, and the intricate care with which He forms each individual. The song anchors its message of self-worth in this divine creative act and intimate knowledge.

Further drawing from Psalm 139, the song notes, "You search me and know me, You know when I sit, when I rise." This highlights God's complete knowledge, extending even to the singer's hidden choices and pain. Despite acknowledging personal flaws and hidden struggles, the song maintains the central affirmation of being wonderfully made, emphasizing that God's knowledge encompasses weaknesses without negating inherent worth. It also includes the idea from Psalm 139:16, "Your eyes, they have seen me, Before I was born," and the understanding that God knows "all the good things, That You made me for," implying a divine purpose inherent in one's creation.

The bridge introduces a sense of awe, contemplating the vastness of the heavens and echoing the question from Psalm 8, "Ohhh what is man, that You're mindful of us?" Yet, this contemplation leads back to the personal assurance that "Still You say that we're wonderfully, Wo-onderfully made." It reinforces the paradox of God's immense scale and His intimate care for each individual. The mention of God never leaving and being present "both behind and before" further grounds the identity in God's constant presence and protection, also drawing from Psalm 139.

Released in 2017, "Wonderfully Made" serves as an anthem of identity rooted in faith, offering a counter-narrative to the pervasive cultural messages and internal voices that fuel insecurity. The repetition of the core message throughout the chorus and the final, earnest plea, "Help me believe it, Help me to see me, Just like You see me, Just like You made me, Wonderfully ma-ade," underscores that embracing this truth is not always instantaneous but is often an ongoing process requiring divine help. It acknowledges the difficulty in fully accepting this profound affirmation and expresses a sincere desire for faith to transform perception.