Kirk Franklin - Hide Me Lyrics
Lyrics
I know You see us, I know You hear us when we pray
You understand us, see deep inside us, translate tears then take 'em away
I'm a be honest, there are times, Your ways and methods, I don't understand
YOu see so far, tell me who You are, I know Your touch, but can't see You plan
I'm lost in the thing called life, left to me now feels right
It's Your turn now, I wanna be where You are
Chorus
Hide me
Let me live behind You
Cause I need
Shelter from the rain
Remind me
The only my faith can grow is when You let Your winds blow
You're making me stronger now so
Rain don't go away
Don't go away
I admit, it'd be nice to have some light shine down on me
Especially when what I shall be You don't always let me see
It ain't easy but I'm trying hard to get out Your way
To believe in what You say, that my change begins today
The road include some pain and to grow you need some rain and when it falls I wanna be where you are
Chorus
'Cause there's so much I see needs to grow inside of me
In the fire I realized before I lived I had to die
Please believe me when i say I can't waste anotyhe day
It's so easy to complain, but complain don't make it change
Not the victim anymore, all the things God has in store
If I ain't ready don't let the rain go away
Don't go away
Chorus
You're making me stronger now 7x
You made me stronger now 3x
He made me stronger now
She made me stronger now
They made me stronger now
You made me stronger now 8x
Video
Hide Me
Meaning & Inspiration
Kirk Franklin’s "Hide Me," released on April 8, 2017, is far more than a simple plea for divine protection; it is a profound journey into the heart of faith, grappling with human vulnerability while ultimately embracing the transformative power of God’s often-uncomfortable methods. The song masterfully articulates the tension between our natural desire for ease and the spiritual necessity of trials, offering a powerful narrative of surrender and growth that resonates deeply within the Christian experience.
The narrative of "Hide Me" begins with an honest acknowledgment of God’s omniscience and boundless understanding, affirming, "I know You see us, I know You hear us when we pray." This recognition of God’s intimate awareness, where tears are translated and pain understood, lays a foundational trust, echoing the psalmist’s confidence in Psalm 139 that God knows our every thought and path. Yet, Franklin quickly shifts to a vulnerable confession of human limitation: "Your ways and methods, I don't understand... can't see You plan." This candid admission mirrors the wisdom of Isaiah 55:8-9, where God reminds humanity that His thoughts and ways far transcend our own, remaining often inscrutable from our earthly vantage point. This feeling of being "lost in the thing called life" pushes the spirit to declare a longing to be "where You are," a yearning for divine presence and clarity amidst confusion.
The chorus then introduces the central, compelling paradox of the song. The initial cry, "Hide me, Let me live behind You, Cause I need Shelter from the rain," is a natural appeal for refuge, a longing for the safe haven promised in Psalm 32:7, "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble." Yet, this desire for shelter is immediately juxtaposed with a radical shift in perspective: "Remind me the only my faith can grow is when You let Your winds blow, You're making me stronger now so Rain don't go away." Here, Franklin reveals a profound spiritual maturity. He acknowledges that true growth doesn't come from avoiding difficulty but by embracing it. The "rain" and "winds" become metaphors for the trials and tribulations that, though uncomfortable, are essential for spiritual development. This perspective aligns perfectly with James 1:2-4, which encourages believers to "count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." It’s a prayer not for the absence of struggle, but for the strength to endure and grow through it, understanding that divine shaping occurs precisely within these challenging seasons.
As the song progresses, Franklin further explores the struggle of walking by faith when God's complete plan remains obscured, observing, "It'd be nice to have some light shine down on me, Especially when what I shall be You don't always let me see." This reflects the reality of living by faith, as described in 2 Corinthians 5:7, "for we walk by faith, not by sight." Despite the difficulty, there is a resolute determination to "get out Your way" and to "believe in what You say, that my change begins today." This commitment to surrender and trust in God’s transformative power, even when the path is unclear, echoes the call to self-denial and taking up one's cross found in Matthew 16:24. The understanding that "the road include some pain and to grow you need some rain" reinforces the biblical principle that suffering often precedes glory, as seen in Romans 5:3-4, where suffering produces perseverance, and perseverance, character, and character, hope.
The powerful realization, "In the fire I realized before I lived I had to die," speaks to the core tenet of the Christian faith—the concept of dying to self to truly live in Christ. This resonates with Galatians 2:20, "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me." It’s a profound recognition that spiritual transformation requires the dismantling of the old self, with its desires and self-sufficiency, to make way for a new life empowered by God. The song then dismisses the futility of complaint, stating, "complain don't make it change," and boldly declares, "Not the victim anymore." This stance aligns with the victorious mindset proclaimed in Romans 8:37, "in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." The ultimate embrace of divine purpose culminates in the poignant request, "If I ain't ready don't let the rain go away," solidifying the understanding that the rain, though painful, is a necessary and welcome agent of God’s strengthening work. The repeated affirmation in the outro, "You're making me stronger now," serves as a testament to the song’s overarching message: God uses every season, every storm, to forge a resilient, deeply rooted faith, empowering us through the very challenges we might initially wish to escape. "Hide Me" is thus an anthem for anyone navigating life's storms, a powerful reminder that true shelter is found not just *from* the rain, but paradoxically, *within* the strengthening grace it brings.