NeedToBreathe - Waiting Lyrics
Released: 11 Aug 2017
Lyrics
I have never loved
A woman that haunts me like you do
I can't get enough, oh
Trust is easier when
I can hold on to you like I do
But lately I'm spent, oh
You keep me waiting
Shaking
Trembling
Chasing
Mistakes that I made
Which words did I say
Oh I can't take it, I need you
Right now cause you keep me waiting, waiting
You, you're easy to chase
Your gravity pulls me into you
I can't get away, oh
You keep me waiting
Shaking
Trembling
Chasing
Mistakes that I made
Which words did I say
Oh I can't take it, I need you
Right now cause you keep me waiting
Shaking
Trembling
Chasing
Mistakes that I made
Which words did I say
Oh I can't take it, I need you
Right now cause you keep me
Video
NEEDTOBREATHE - "WAITING" [Official Audio]
Meaning & Inspiration
The song "Waiting," found on NeedToBreathe's 2017 release, *HARD CUTS: Songs from the H A R D L O V E Sessions - EP*, emerges as a raw and honest exploration of profound longing and spiritual tension. Released on August 11, 2017, this track distills a universal human experience into a deeply personal narrative, inviting us to look beyond the surface of a seemingly earthly relationship to discern the persistent, all-consuming pursuit of the Divine. It’s a powerful testament to the soul's yearning for its Creator, a recognition that some desires can only be fulfilled by a presence that transcends the material.
The initial lines, describing an unparalleled affection that "haunts" the speaker, immediately establish a profound connection. While initially interpretable as a romantic sentiment, within the context of NeedToBreathe’s body of work and a faith-centered worldview, this "haunting" presence beautifully encapsulates the omnipresence and irresistible pull of God in a believer's life. It speaks to a love so profound it permeates every thought, an inescapable influence that shapes our very being. This divine gravity, where one "can't get away," echoes the Scriptural truth that God's love relentlessly pursues us, drawing us into His embrace regardless of our efforts to distance ourselves. As Jeremiah 31:3 declares, "I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore, with unfailing love I have drawn you to you," reminding us that His affection is an eternal, active force. Similarly, Romans 8:38-39 reassures us that nothing in all creation can separate us from the boundless love of God, reinforcing this inescapable pull.
Yet, this profound connection is intertwined with a palpable sense of struggle, articulated in the recurring refrain: "You keep me waiting, shaking, trembling." This captures the unsettling reality of the spiritual journey where growth often occurs in seasons of perceived stillness or delay. Waiting on God is rarely comfortable; it can bring an unsettling vulnerability, a "shaking" and "trembling" that might signify deep conviction, a reverent awe in His presence, or even the discomfort of spiritual refining. Isaiah 40:31 offers perspective, promising renewed strength to those who wait for the Lord, while Psalm 27:14 urges us to "Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!" These moments of spiritual unease, though challenging, are often crucibles for deeper faith, aligning with Philippians 2:12's exhortation to "work out your own salvation with fear and trembling," acknowledging the seriousness and transformative power of our walk with God.
The song’s exploration of internal conflict continues with the admission of "chasing / Mistakes that I made / Which words did I say." This reveals a vital dimension of the spiritual journey: self-examination and repentance. The feeling of being "spent" suggests spiritual exhaustion, perhaps from striving in one's own strength or wrestling with past missteps. This reflection on words and actions that may have created distance from God is a powerful call to confession and reconciliation. It mirrors the heart cry found in Psalm 51:10, "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me," and the assurance in 1 John 1:9 that "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." This pursuit of spiritual clarity and a right standing with the Divine is not a condemnation but an invitation to draw closer, recognizing that our shortcomings do not diminish God's desire for us.
Ultimately, the song culminates in an urgent, almost desperate plea: "Oh I can't take it, I need you / Right now." This is the raw, unadulterated cry of a soul in genuine need of God's immediate presence and intervention. It’s the spiritual equivalent of Psalm 42:1-2, where the psalmist declares, "As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God." This profound hunger for righteousness and intimate connection with the Creator is a blessed state, as Jesus himself proclaimed in Matthew 5:6: "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied." "Waiting" by NeedToBreathe thus transcends a mere depiction of human relationship to become a profound spiritual anthem, articulating the complex interplay of divine pursuit, personal struggle, and the ultimate, undeniable need for God's comforting and transformative presence. It stands as a compelling reminder that even in seasons of waiting and wrestling, our God is ever present, calling us to a deeper, more intimate walk, ready to meet us in our most vulnerable moments.