Maverick City Music - For My Good Lyrics
Lyrics
I used to damn those desert valleys But now I thank You for those droughts I used to curse the walls around me But now I see You had it figured out
It was all working for my good If only I knew back then what I know right now Nothing is wasted in Your hands God, You didn't forsake me And I know You never will
There is beauty in the ashes There's a peace within the storm There's a song for every season So don't stop singing On and on until you see the sun
'Cause it was all working for my good I see it now If only I knew back then what I know right now Nothing is wasted in Your hands God, You didn't forsake me And I know You never will
I know You never will You never leave me You never will And I trust You Even when I don't see You I still trust You When I don't understand I still lift my hands and worship in the middle of it
When I should've lost my mind You showed up right on time And carried me through the valley All the way on the other side And when pain tried to take my joy That's when I felt You more Now I've gotta testify God, You kept my heart alive
Oh, yes, You did I didn't know if I'd survived I gave up so many times But You kept my heart alive
When love ones came to die You never left my side And You kept my heart alive
Yes, You did Yes, You did Yes, You did
I'll praise You in the day And I'll praise You through the night 'Cause You kept my heart alive Yes, You did Yes, You did Yes, You did
I'm alive I'm alive I'm alive I'm alive
'Cause You kept my heart alive You kept my heart alive
Nobody else can do it Nobody else can do it You kept my heart alive Nobody else can do it Nobody else can do it You kept my heart alive Nobody else can do it Nobody else can do it I'm grateful You kept me Nobody else can do it When nobody else When I thought I was alone You kept me Nobody else can do it When I thought I wouldn't make When I thought I wouldn't make You kept me You kept me
When I thought it was over You never left in the valley
It was all working for my good If only I knew back then what I know right now Nothing is wasted in Your hands God, You didn't forsake me And I know You never will You didn't forsake me And I know You never will
Come on lift those hand Let's declare this You never will You never will I need you to make that confession You never will When the enemy starts talking to you, declare When he tries to make you feel that God has forsaken you, declare this I lift my voice and say Even in the middle of the storm, I'll say Even when I'm confused, I'll say [?]
It was all working for my good Sing it over your heart If only I knew back then what I know right now I wouldn't have been mad at You And nothing is wasted in Your hands I know, God, You didn't forsake me And I know You never will God, You didn't forsake me I thought You did I know You never will God, You didn't forsake me
Come on, raise th—raise your hand [?]
Video
For My Good - Maverick City Music | Chandler Moore | Todd Galberth (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
There is a particular kind of math we do when we’re suffering. We tally up the losses—the "desert valleys," the "walls"—and we instinctively subtract God’s presence from the equation. We assume that if it hurts, He must have stepped out of the room.
Maverick City Music hits a nerve with, "I used to damn those desert valleys / But now I thank You for those droughts." It’s a jarring line, really. As someone who spends a lot of time thinking about what we put in people's mouths on a Sunday morning, I’m always wary of songs that try to force a "thank you" onto grief before the person is ready. Gratitude is a muscle that takes time to develop after trauma. But there’s something honest about this admission. It isn't a Hallmark card version of hope; it’s a rearview mirror perspective. It’s the admission that our previous assessment of God’s character was flawed because our vantage point was subterranean.
Romans 8:28 is the shadow behind these lyrics, but they sidestep the common trap of making it sound like a platitude. It’s one thing to hear, "All things work for good," when you’re standing in the sun. It’s another to sing it when you’re mourning a loved one or fighting to keep your sanity.
The weight of the song lands on the phrase: "God, You didn't forsake me / I thought You did."
That is the most liturgical moment in the entire piece. It’s a confession. We’ve all been there—staring at a closed door or an empty chair, whispering that God has abandoned the post. To have a room full of people acknowledge, "I thought You did," strips away the performative armor. It moves us past the "me-centered" desire for a pain-free life and toward a raw recognition of His consistency despite our lack of clarity.
From a practical perspective, this isn't the easiest song to lead. The melodic range demands a vocalist who can carry the emotion without getting lost in the vocal runs, and the bridge is long—dangerously long. In a room, if the leader isn't careful, that "Nobody else can do it" repetition can veer into empty noise. But if the congregation stays tethered to that specific confession—that God was present even when we were busy cursing Him—it becomes a corporate act of repentance.
The landing is shaky, and I think that’s right. When the music dies down, you aren't left with a tidy summary of your life. You’re left with a question: If I was wrong about Him leaving me then, am I wrong about Him leaving me now? It doesn't promise that the storm is over. It only promises that you aren't in it alone. And sometimes, knowing you aren't alone is the only thing that keeps the hands lifted when the floor falls out.