Skillet - Stars Lyrics
Released: 24 Feb 2017
Lyrics
You spoke a word and life began
Told oceans where to start and where to end
You set in motion time and space
But still you come and you call to me by name
Still you come and you call to me by name
If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars
The deepest depths, the darkest nights
Can't separate, can't keep me from your sight
I get so lost, forget my way
But still you love and you don't forget my name
If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars
Your love has called my name
What do I have to fear?
What do I have to fear?
Your love has called my name
What do I have to fear?
What do I have to fear?
If you can hold the stars in place
You can hold my heart the same
Whenever I fall away
Whenever I start to break
So here I am, lifting up my heart
(Lifting up my heart)
If you can calm the raging sea
You can calm the storm in me
You're never too far away
You never show up too late
So here I am, lifting up my heart
To the one who holds the stars
You're the one who holds the stars
Video
Skillet - Stars [Official Video]
Meaning & Inspiration
Skillet's "Stars," featured on the 2017 soundtrack for "The Shack," is a powerful anthem of unwavering faith and divine reassurance. The song's narrative immediately grounds itself in the absolute sovereignty of God, acknowledging His role as the Creator who spoke life into existence and meticulously set the boundaries of the cosmos, as reflected in verses like Psalm 33:6: "By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth." Yet, despite this immense power and cosmic dominion, the central message of "Stars" is the intimate and personal nature of God's attention. It highlights how the same Being who orchestrates the vast universe still notices and calls out to individuals by name, a profound concept echoed in Isaiah 43:1: "But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: 'Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.'"
The core of the song lies in its bold declaration of trust. The lyrics pose a simple yet deeply resonant question: if God can hold the stars in their celestial courses, surely He can also hold and secure a human heart. This comparative assurance draws strength from the immense power attributed to God, suggesting that the same divine will that governs the physical universe is more than capable of managing the complexities of human emotion and experience. The repeated assurance, "Whenever I fall away, whenever I start to break," is met with the unwavering promise of divine support, aligning with promises of God's steadfastness found in Romans 8:38-39: "For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Furthermore, "Stars" addresses the human tendency towards feeling lost and forgotten in the face of life's challenges, particularly during "deepest depths" and "darkest nights." The lyrics affirm that even when one feels disoriented and loses their way, God's love and remembrance remain constant. This speaks directly to the faithfulness of God, as described in 2 Timothy 2:13: "if we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot disown himself." The song’s bridge extends this comfort by drawing a parallel between God's ability to calm the turbulent seas and His power to bring peace to inner turmoil. The assurance that He is "never too far away" and "never show up too late" is a direct testament to His ever-present and perfectly timed intervention, reminiscent of Jesus calming the storm in Mark 4:39: "And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, 'Peace! Be still!' And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm." Ultimately, "Stars" is an inspiring invitation to surrender one's anxieties and fears to the One who holds everything together, finding solace in His unshakeable love and presence, even in the most overwhelming circumstances.