Jonny Diaz - Innocent Days Lyrics
Lyrics
Why do I question what's taking place
Whatever happened to innocent days
Days when I gladly walked by Your side
After the guilt but way before my pride
Why do I hide in places so small
Crowded with questions, no room at all
For all the big things You once had planned
My faith disappeared when I let go Your hand
Innocent faith/ innocent way/ an innocent heart/ filled with innocent praise
Unfailing love/ undeserved grace/
Please take me back to innocent days
Is Your forgiveness so deep and wide
That it would place me back at Your side
Why should You want me, why should You care
I don't understand this love that You share
Lord, free my heart to feel, to touch, to see, to taste
Cover me with the robe, the garment of innocent praise
Video
Innocent Days
Meaning & Inspiration
Jonny Diaz released "Innocent Days" on September 9, 2005, as part of his album "Everyday God," offering a profound exploration of spiritual wandering and the yearning for restoration. The song dives deep into the heart of a believer who has drifted from their initial, unburdened faith, grappling with questions, pride, and a perceived distance from God, yet clinging to the hope of returning to a state of pure devotion. It captures a universal spiritual struggle, making it incredibly relatable for anyone who has experienced the complexities that can cloud a once-simple relationship with the divine.
The song opens with a raw, introspective question: "Why do I question what's taking place / Whatever happened to innocent days." This immediate vulnerability sets the stage for a journey into the heart of spiritual regression. The "innocent days" described are those "when I gladly walked by Your side / After the guilt but way before my pride." Here, Diaz pinpoints a crucial distinction: the initial cleansing from guilt that accompanies conversion is often followed by a more insidious challenge – the emergence of pride, self-reliance, or complex theological wrestling that can overshadow simple faith. It evokes the spirit of Matthew 18:3, where Jesus calls for a childlike humility, stating, "Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." The song's speaker is lamenting the loss of that very simplicity, a genuine purity of heart that sees God clearly without the distortions of self.
As the narrative unfolds, the speaker confesses, "Why do I hide in places so small / Crowded with questions, no room at all / For all the big things You once had planned / My faith disappeared when I let go Your hand." This imagery of hiding in confined spaces speaks to spiritual constriction, a retreat into doubt and self-imposed limitations that stifle the expansive vision God has for our lives, as promised in Jeremiah 29:11, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." The candid admission, "My faith disappeared when I let go Your hand," is a powerful acknowledgment of human agency in drifting away, rather than blaming God. It reminds us that while God's grip is unfailing, we often are the ones who release our hold, despite His continuous presence, as beautifully captured in Isaiah 41:10, "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
The chorus then becomes a fervent plea for restoration, painting a vivid picture of the desired state: "Innocent faith/ innocent way/ an innocent heart/ filled with innocent praise." This vision is one of pure, unadulterated worship, free from pretense or the heavy weight of doubts. The subsequent lines, "Unfailing love/ undeserved grace/ Please take me back to innocent days," reveal the bedrock of this hope. It is not through human effort or merit that such a return is possible, but solely through God's steadfast, unending love and His unmerited favor. Lamentations 3:22-23 assures us, "Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." This appeal to God's character underscores that the path back is paved by His boundless mercy and grace, which is always available (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The song continues to probe the depths of God's forgiveness and incomprehensible love: "Is Your forgiveness so deep and wide / That it would place me back at Your side / Why should You want me, why should You care / I don't understand this love that You share." These questions reflect a common human struggle to grasp the infinite nature of divine mercy. The vastness of God's forgiveness is indeed described in Psalm 103:11-12, "For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us." The speaker's wonder at God's desire for them ("Why should You want me, why should You care") resonates deeply, mirroring the truth of Romans 5:8, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." It is a love that defies human logic and goes beyond all understanding.
"Innocent Days" culminates in a powerful prayer for complete spiritual renewal: "Lord, free my heart to feel, to touch, to see, to taste / Cover me with the robe, the garment of innocent praise." This isn't merely a request for intellectual understanding, but for a full, sensory re-engagement with God, moving from mere questioning to experiential faith. It echoes the invitation in Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." The desire to be "covered with the robe, the garment of innocent praise" is rich with biblical symbolism. Isaiah 61:10 speaks of being "clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness." Here, the "garment of innocent praise" represents a divine covering that not only restores the ability to praise, but does so from a heart purified and unburdened, a prayer for God to complete the transformation by clothing the believer in the very essence of genuine adoration.
Jonny Diaz's "Innocent Days" stands as an inspiring anthem for anyone grappling with spiritual distance, doubt, or the subtle erosion of faith over time. It masterfully articulates the longing for a simple, pure relationship with God, reminding us that the journey back to those "innocent days" is always possible through His unfailing love and undeserved grace. The song does not offer easy answers but rather a heartfelt cry to the One who always welcomes us back, clothed in mercy and eager to restore us to a place of unburdened praise. It is a profound invitation to remember our first love and trust in the vastness of God's redemptive power.