MercyMe - Best News Ever Lyrics
Lyrics
Some say, "Don't give up"
And hope that your good is good enough
Head down, keep on working
If you can earn it, you deserve it
Some say, "Push on through"
After all, it's the least that you can do
But don't buy what they're selling
It couldn't be further from the truth
What if I were the one to tell you
That the fight's already been won
Well, I think your day's about to get better
What if I were the one to tell you
That the work's already been done
It's not good news
It's the best news ever
Some say, "Don't ask for help"
God helps the ones who help themselves
So press on, get it right
Otherwise, get left behind
Some say "He's keeping score"
"So try hard, then try a little more"
But hold up, if this were true
Explain to me what the cross is for!
What if I were the one to tell you
That the fight's already been won
Well, I think your day's about to get better
What if I were the one to tell you
That the work's already been done
It's not good news
It's the best news ever
Best news ever
So won't you, come
Come all you weary and you burdened
You heavy-laden and you hurting
For all of you with nothing left
Come and find rest!
What if I were the one to tell you
That the fight's already been won
Well, I think your day's about to get better
What if I were the one to tell you
That the work's already been done
It's not good news
It's the best news ever!
Best news ever...
It's not good news
It's the best news ever
Best news ever
It's not good news
It's the best news ever
Video
MercyMe - Best News Ever (Official Lyric Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
MercyMe’s 2017 release, "Best News Ever," from the album *Lifer*, is a powerful anthem that directly challenges the pervasive cultural narratives of earning one’s worth through relentless effort and self-sufficiency. The song opens by confronting common societal advice—"Don't give up," "hope that your good is good enough," "press on, get it right"—all of which, the lyrics suggest, are ultimately flawed and misleading. Instead of embracing these messages, MercyMe boldly proclaims that these teachings are "further from the truth." The core of the song’s message is a profound reorientation of perspective, shifting from human striving to divine completion. It posits an alternative, a revelation that the "fight's already been won" and the "work's already been done." This is presented not as mere good news, but as the "best news ever," a concept deeply rooted in the Christian understanding of salvation through Christ's finished work.
The song’s theological underpinning is rich, drawing a direct line from its message to the purpose of the cross, as explicitly stated: "Hold up, if this were true, explain to me what the cross is for!" This question acts as a linchpin, asserting that if human effort and merit were the true path to acceptance or worth, the sacrifice of Jesus would be rendered meaningless. The lyrics powerfully echo the New Testament emphasis on grace, particularly the concept that salvation is a gift received through faith, not earned by deeds. This aligns with verses like Ephesians 2:8-9, which states, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." The song’s invitation, "Come all you weary and you burdened, You heavy-laden and you hurting, For all of you with nothing left, Come and find rest!" directly mirrors Jesus' own invitation in Matthew 11:28: "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." It speaks to a liberation from the pressure of self-justification and a gracious invitation to embrace peace found in God’s completed plan. By framing God’s provision as "the best news ever," MercyMe underscores the radical, liberating truth at the heart of the Gospel – that in Christ, humanity’s greatest struggles have already been overcome, and an invitation to abundant life is freely extended, not based on our performance but on God's unfailing love and grace.