NeedToBreathe - Difference Maker Lyrics
Lyrics
Isn't it amazing how a man can find himself alone
Call into the darkness for an answer
that's he's never known
Isn't it amazing how God can take a broken man
Let him find a fortune let him ruin
it with his own two hands
And he walks on up the hill
on the rock on which he stands
he looks back at the crowd
And he looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker.
I am the difference maker
I am the only one that speaks to him
I am the friendliest of friends of God.
Isn't it amazing how a man can find himself alone
Call into the darkness for an answer
that's he's never known
And he walks on up the hill
on the rock on which he stands
he looks back at the ground
And he looks down at his hands and he says
I am a difference maker.
I am the difference maker
I am the only one that speaks to him
I am the friendliest of friends of God.
I am on the fence about nearly everything I've seen
And I have felt the fire be put out by too much gasoline
We're all strangers passing through, place and time, afternoon
Life is but a vision in a window that we're peeking through
It's a helpless conversation with a man who says
he cares a lot
It's a hopeless confrontation about
who might throw a punch or not
And we are all transgressors, we're all sinners,
we're all astronauts
So if you're beating death then raise your hand
but shut up if you're not.
I am the difference maker
I am the only one that speaks to him
I am the friendliest of friends of God.
I am the difference maker
I am the only one that speaks to him
I am the friendliest of friends of God.
Video
NEEDTOBREATHE - "Difference Maker" [Official Video]
Meaning & Inspiration
Needtobreathe’s "Difference Maker," released on February 17, 2014, as part of their album *Rivers In the Wasteland*, delves into the profound and often challenging journey of self-discovery and one’s unique purpose within the divine narrative. The song opens by painting a picture of human isolation, a state where individuals cry out into the void, seeking answers they’ve never encountered. This resonates with the biblical account of our inherent longing for connection and understanding, a void that only God can fill. The lyrics reflect on the human tendency to receive blessings, like finding a fortune, only to squander it through personal failings. This echoes the parable of the prodigal son, who took his inheritance and wasted it, only to find redemption and a renewed sense of belonging upon his return (Luke 15:11-32). The pivotal moment arrives as the protagonist ascends a metaphorical hill, standing on firm ground, and declares, "I am a difference maker." This declaration is not born of arrogance, but of a profound realization of divine empowerment. It speaks to the understanding that when one is rightly positioned in their faith, looking back at past struggles and inward at their own capacity, they can grasp the transformative power God has instilled within them. The repetition of "I am the only one that speaks to him" and "I am the friendliest of friends of God" suggests an intimate, personal relationship with the Almighty, where individual voices are heard and cherished. This aligns with the assurance that God hears the prayers of the righteous (Psalm 34:17) and desires a close fellowship with His creation.
The song’s middle section thoughtfully explores the ambivalence and confusion that can characterize our earthly existence. The lines about being “on the fence about nearly everything” and feeling the fire extinguished by “too much gasoline” capture the struggle of navigating a world filled with conflicting information and the tendency to let circumstances dampen our spiritual zeal. The imagery of life as a fleeting vision, a mere peek through a window, invites contemplation of eternity and the transient nature of our worldly experiences. The lyrics then address the futility of arguments and superficial interactions, describing “helpless conversations” and “hopeless confrontations.” The profound statement, "We're all transgressors, we're all sinners," is a direct acknowledgment of our fallen nature, a truth consistently affirmed in Scripture. Romans 3:23 states, "for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Yet, within this shared human frailty, the song points towards a singular path to overcoming the limitations of our sin. The challenge to "raise your hand" if you're "beating death" and to remain silent otherwise is a powerful invitation to embrace the victory Christ offers. This is the victory over sin and death, a triumph secured through faith in Him, as 1 Corinthians 15:57 declares, "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." The recurring refrain, "I am the difference maker," solidifies the song’s core message: that through a redeemed relationship with God, empowered by His Spirit, each individual is called to be an agent of positive change, reflecting His love and truth in a world desperately in need of both.