Emmy Rose + Bethel Music - Tend Lyrics

Album: Tend - Single
Released: 14 Mar 2025

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Lyrics

In the landscape of my life
You don’t rush through any season
You always take Your time

A careful hand, a gentle guide
You take what’s dead away
And You prune what’s running wild

So be the gardener of my heart
Tend the soil of my soul
Break up the fallow ground
Cut back the overgrown
And I won’t shy away
I will let the branches fall
So what You want can stay
And what You love can grow

Through winter, I’m still alive
What You’ve planted in the dirt
Is ever reaching to the light

You prepare me for darkened times
You’ll sustain what You have started
And You’ll teach me to abide

Be the gardener of my heart
Tend the soil of my soul
Break up the fallow ground
Cut back the overgrown
And I won’t shy away
I will let the branches fall
So what You want can stay
And what You love can grow, grow

Have Your way in me
Have Your way in me
Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow

I’ll remain in You
You’ll remain in me
And I will trust Your timing

I’ll remain in You
You’ll remain in me
From the start until the ending
‘Cause You know better

Written by Emmy Rose, Michaela Gentile, and Jessie Early.

Video

Tend - Emmy Rose, Bethel Music

Meaning & Inspiration

The latest offering from Emmy Rose and Bethel Music, "Tend," released on March 14, 2025, as a standalone single, immediately establishes itself as a profound meditation on divine stewardship and personal surrender. This song transcends mere melody to offer a deeply theological and intensely personal exploration of God's patient, transformative work in the human soul, drawing on the rich biblical metaphor of a gardener tending to His vineyard.

At its core, "Tend" articulates a longing for spiritual cultivation, presenting God not just as a creator, but as an active, meticulous caretaker of our inner lives. The lyrics paint a vivid picture of God's unhurried approach to our growth, acknowledging that He "don’t rush through any season" but "always take[s] Your time." This resonates profoundly with the understanding of God's perfect timing found throughout Scripture, reminding us that His processes are often slow and deliberate, designed for our ultimate good, as Ecclesiastes 3:1 reminds us, "There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens."

The song courageously addresses the often-uncomfortable reality of spiritual pruning. Emmy Rose sings of a "careful hand, a gentle guide" that "take[s] what’s dead away / And You prune what’s running wild." This imagery powerfully evokes Jesus' teaching in John 15, where He describes Himself as the true vine and His Father as the gardener who prunes every branch that bears fruit so it will be even more fruitful. It speaks to the necessary removal of sin, unhealthy habits, or even good things that have become overgrown, preventing deeper growth. This divine discipline, though sometimes painful, is ultimately an act of love, preparing us for greater fruitfulness, as Hebrews 12:11 assures us, "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it."

The chorus serves as a powerful prayer of surrender: "Be the gardener of my heart / Tend the soil of my soul / Break up the fallow ground / Cut back the overgrown." The plea to "break up the fallow ground" is a direct biblical reference, echoing Hosea 10:12 and Jeremiah 4:3, which call for the people to "break up your unplowed ground" and sow righteousness. This signifies a willingness to allow God to disturb complacent or hardened areas of our hearts, preparing them to receive new seed and new life. The commitment, "I won’t shy away / I will let the branches fall / So what You want can stay / And what You love can grow," beautifully illustrates the believer's active cooperation in sanctification, trusting God's wisdom even when the process feels like loss.

"Tend" further explores themes of resilience and divine sustenance through challenging seasons. The declaration, "Through winter, I’m still alive / What You’ve planted in the dirt / Is ever reaching to the light," speaks to the enduring nature of faith and God’s work within us, even when circumstances are harsh. It’s a testament to the life-giving power of Christ, much like the tree in Psalm 1:3 that is "planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither." The assurance that God "prepare[s] me for darkened times" and "sustain[s] what You have started" builds upon Philippians 1:6, which promises that "he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." The call to "teach me to abide" is a direct reference to John 15:4, emphasizing the crucial reliance on Christ for spiritual vitality and fruitfulness.

The bridge, with its repeated plea "Have Your way in me" and the affirmation "I’ll remain in You / You’ll remain in me / And I will trust Your timing / From the start until the ending / ‘Cause You know better," encapsulates the heart of wholehearted devotion. It is a humble submission to divine authority and wisdom, recognizing that God's plans and understanding far surpass our own, as Isaiah 55:8-9 declares, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the Lord. This mutual indwelling and unwavering trust are the bedrock of Christian faith, fostering a profound peace that transcends understanding. "Tend" is a masterful lyrical journey through the essential aspects of spiritual formation, inviting every believer to open their heart fully to the patient, powerful, and loving work of the Divine Gardener.