From death to life
From darkness to a shine
From fear to a peace
I can’t explain
From doubts to a hope
Holding on and letting go
Of all the empty promises of shame
This is my song
I was one way
But now I am different
There was a clear change in
A Holy collision
Who I was
And who I’ll forever be
And He was the in between
(Ooh ooh)
From orphan to Your child
From a stone to running wild
From a seed in the ground
To breaking out
From a mess to a mess
A blessing to a blessing
A sea of failures bearing testimony
This is my song
I was one way
But now I’m different
There was a clear change in
A Holy collision
Who I was
And who I’ll forever be
And He was the in between
(Ooh ooh)
Love stretched out
On a tree screaming out
So that I could say
You’ve not forsaken me
You’re the first and the last
My future and my past
Who I was
And who I will forever be
You are the in between
I was one way
But now I am different
There was a clear change in
A Holy collision
Who I was
And who I’ll forever be
And You are the in between
I was one way
But now I am different
There was a clear change in
A Holy collision
Who I was
And who I’ll forever be
And You are the in between
You are the in between
Matt Maher - The In Between (Official Music Video)
The In Between Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Matt Maher's song "The In Between," released on December 5, 2022, presents a deeply personal reflection on spiritual transformation. The opening verses establish a clear contrast between a past state and a present reality, using potent imagery: transitioning "From death to life," "From darkness to a shine," and "From fear to a peace." This journey, described as something "I can't explain," moves from "doubts to a hope," involving both "Holding on and letting go / Of all the empty promises of shame." It immediately signals a profound shift in the narrator's identity and condition.
The core message of the song crystallizes in the chorus, declaring "I was one way / But now I am different." This change is attributed to a singular, defining event or process described as "A Holy collision." The lyrics articulate the span of this transformation: "Who I was / And who I’ll forever be," with the critical element connecting these two points being "He was the in between." This establishes Christ as the essential bridge, the necessary catalyst and ongoing presence facilitating this radical alteration from a former self to a new, enduring identity.
The second verse continues to illustrate this dramatic change through further contrasting images, moving "From orphan to Your child," signifying a change in status and belonging. The transition "From a stone to running wild" suggests a shift from hardness and immobility to vitality and freedom. The picture "From a seed in the ground / To breaking out" evokes growth and emergence. Notably, the lines "From a mess to a mess / A blessing to a blessing" and "A sea of failures bearing testimony" introduce nuance, acknowledging the presence of struggles or imperfections ("mess") even within the transformed state, yet framing everything, including past failures, as ultimately testifying to God's work.
A pivotal moment arrives in the bridge, providing the theological grounding for this transformation. "Love stretched out / On a tree screaming out" is a direct reference to the crucifixion of Christ. This act of sacrifice is presented as the foundation that allows the declaration, "So that I could say / You’ve not forsaken me." It connects the abstract concept of "the in between" to the historical, salvific event of the cross, identifying divine love and sacrifice as the engine of change.
Following the bridge, the perspective shifts from referring to Christ in the third person ("He was the in between") to addressing God directly in the second person ("You are the in between"). The lyrics reaffirm God's eternal nature as "the first and the last, My future and my past," emphasizing His constant presence across all time. This reiterates that God is not just the facilitator of a past change but the ongoing reality connecting the former self to the eternal future identity, serving as the continuous "in between." The song concludes with a repeated affirmation of this truth, centering the entire narrative on God's indispensable role in the journey of faith and transformation.
