Mark Schultz - I Am The Way Lyrics
Lyrics
You've got a secret no one knows
Locked away where no one goes
Deep inside your heart
It's tearing you apart
You hide the pain in all you do
But still the shackles binding you
Are heavier than stone
But you are not alone
Pre-Chorus:
When you're down
Look around
And you'll see... I am with you
Look to me
And you'll see
I will be... there to guide you
Take my hand
And I can
Lead you on... for you know that
Chorus:
I am the answer
I am the way
I am the promise
I have called your name
So you want a brand new start
Asking Me into your heart
Down on bended knee
For the world to see
And the chains around your heart
Fall away and break apart
Suddenly you see
The truth has set you free
Pre-Chorus
Chorus
Surrounded by darkness you stumbled along
Knowing the road that you traveled was long
But I'm here beside you...yes, here all along
The one that will carry you on...
Pre-Chorus
Chorus
Oh when you are down
You think no ones around
But I'll be with you both night and day
I know the good times
I'll see you through bad times
Oh you know that I'm here to stay
Chorus
When you're down
Look around
And you'll see I am with you
Video
I Am the Way
Meaning & Inspiration
Mark Schultz’s "I Am The Way," released on April 19, 2011, as part of his album *The Best of Mark Schultz*, stands as a powerful testament to the transformative message of Christian faith. This song is an intimate invitation, extended from the divine to the individual soul, addressing the universal human experience of hidden struggle and the longing for liberation. It paints a vivid picture of a soul burdened by undisclosed pain, bound by invisible chains that feel heavier than stone, and the profound isolation that often accompanies such internal battles. The narrative immediately connects with anyone who has ever wrestled with secrets or silent suffering, acknowledging the deep, tearing ache within the heart that often manifests in daily actions, despite attempts to conceal it. This resonates with the biblical understanding that the human heart can be deceitful and desperately sick (Jeremiah 17:9), holding onto things that ultimately bring bondage rather than freedom.
The song then shifts from diagnosis to divine intervention, presenting the core message of hope and companionship. It portrays a loving presence assuring the struggling individual, "I am with you," a comforting echo of God's promise to never leave or forsake His people (Deuteronomy 31:6, Hebrews 13:5). The repeated call to "look to me" and "take my hand" is a tender beckoning, inviting trust and surrender to a guiding hand. This echoes Proverbs 3:5-6, which encourages reliance not on one's own understanding, but on God's direction for life's path. The ultimate promise is that this divine presence will lead one on, providing unwavering support through life's darkest valleys, a sentiment beautifully articulated in Psalm 23:4, "Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me."
The profound statement in the chorus, "I am the answer, I am the way, I am the promise, I have called your name," serves as the song's spiritual epicenter, directly referencing pivotal scriptural truths. The declaration "I am the way" is an unmistakable allusion to Jesus Christ’s own words in John 14:6: "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." This line doesn't merely offer a solution; it presents *the* solution, emphasizing that true direction and purpose are found solely in Him. To say "I am the answer" speaks to the ultimate wisdom and knowledge found in Christ, as Colossians 2:3 reveals that "in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." Furthermore, "I am the promise" reinforces God's faithfulness, reminding us that all of God’s promises find their "Yes" and "Amen" in Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20), solidifying the reliability of His word. The personal touch, "I have called your name," underscores a deeply intimate and intentional relationship, mirroring passages like Isaiah 43:1, where God assures, "I have called you by name; you are mine."
The song then beautifully illustrates the transformative moment of surrender and new beginnings. It describes the act of asking the divine into one's heart, a profoundly personal and often public declaration, as depicted by the imagery of being "down on bended knee for the world to see." This speaks to the powerful conversion experience, where confession of faith and belief in the heart lead to salvation (Romans 10:9-10). In this moment of heartfelt invitation, the song powerfully declares that the chains around the heart "fall away and break apart." This liberation from bondage is a core theme in Christian theology, symbolizing freedom from sin, fear, and past hurts, much like the freedom proclaimed in Galatians 5:1, where Christ has set us free. The subsequent realization that "the truth has set you free" is a direct echo of John 8:32, where Jesus states, "Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." This freedom is not just an absence of chains but an embrace of authentic life and purpose in Christ. The song reinforces this by speaking of stumbling in darkness and feeling the journey was long, only to be reassured that the divine presence has been "here all along," ready to carry one forward, fulfilling the promise of Isaiah 46:4, "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he who will sustain you; I have made you and I will carry you." The comforting assurance that this presence will be there "both night and day," through "good times" and "bad times," underscores the unyielding, steadfast love of God, a love that sees us through every season of life, echoing Psalm 55:22 to cast our burdens upon Him, for He sustains us. "I Am The Way" ultimately serves as an inspiring anthem for anyone seeking solace, purpose, and genuine freedom, reminding all who hear it that in Christ, every secret burden can be lifted, every chain broken, and a truly new beginning is always within reach.