Steven Curtis Chapman - SEE Lyrics
Lyrics
Right now
All I can taste are bitter tears
Right now
All I can see are clouds of sorrow
But from the other side of all this pain
Is that you I hear
And calling out to me?
Saying "See, it's everything you said that it would be
And even better than you would believe.
And I'm counting down the days until you're here with me
And finally you'll see"
But right now
All I can say is "Lord, how long
Before You come
And take away this aching?"
This night of weeping
Seems to have no end
But when the morning light breaks through
We'll open up our eyes
And we will see everything He said that is would be
And even better than we would believe
And He's counting down the days
Till He says "Come with Me"
And finally
He'll wipe every tear from our eyes
And make everything new,
Just like He promised
Wait and see
Just wait and see
Wait and see
And I'm counting down the days
Until I see it's everything
He said it would be
And even better than we would believe
And I'm counting down the days
Till He says
"Come with Me"
And finally
We'll see
Wait and see
O taste and see
That the Lord is good
The the Lord is good
The Lord is good
O taste and see
That the Lord is good
The Lord is good
Video
See
Meaning & Inspiration
Steven Curtis Chapman’s profound song, "SEE," released on September 27, 2013, as part of his album *The Glorious Unfolding*, emerges from a crucible of personal pain and unwavering faith. The song offers a deeply human reflection on suffering, hope, and the promise of eternity, drawing heavily from Chapman's own journey through unimaginable grief, particularly the loss of his daughter, Maria Sue, in 2008. This lived experience infuses every line with authenticity, transforming a lament into a beacon of resilient hope for anyone navigating the bitter waters of sorrow and longing.
The song immediately plunges into the raw reality of present anguish, articulating a familiar cry of the human heart in distress. Chapman begins by painting a vivid picture of present despair, where "all I can taste are bitter tears" and "all I can see are clouds of sorrow." This echoes the Psalmist’s lament in Psalm 56:8, where tears are collected in a bottle, signifying God's intimate awareness of our pain. The sentiment "Lord, how long / Before You come / And take away this aching?" resonates deeply with the cries found throughout Scripture, from Psalm 13:1 asking "How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?" to Habakkuk 1:2 questioning the duration of suffering. It’s a powerful validation for those who feel their "night of weeping" seems endless, affirming that such honest cries are not only acceptable but deeply biblical.
Yet, even in the depths of this sorrow, a divine whisper pierces through the gloom, offering a glimpse of something beyond the immediate pain. The turning point arrives with the question, "But from the other side of all this pain / Is that you I hear / And calling out to me?" This transition signals the possibility of transcendent hope, where God Himself speaks into the brokenness. The divine voice promises a future where everything will be "everything you said that it would be / And even better than you would believe." This extraordinary assurance directly references 1 Corinthians 2:9, which declares, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him." What is particularly tender and striking is the revelation that God is actively "counting down the days until you’re here with me," a profound image of a waiting Father eagerly anticipating the homecoming of His child.
As the song progresses, the narrative expands from a personal "I" to a communal "we," inviting all who grieve to share in this collective expectation. "When the morning light breaks through / We'll open up our eyes / And we will see everything He said that is would be / And even better than we would believe." This communal aspect strengthens the message, reminding us that we are not alone in our suffering or our hope. The ultimate promise of comfort is beautifully articulated: "He'll wipe every tear from our eyes / And make everything new, / Just like He promised." This is a direct invocation of Revelation 21:4, a cornerstone of Christian hope that assures us of a future where death, sorrow, crying, and pain will be no more.
The recurring phrase "Wait and see" throughout the song is not an instruction for passive resignation but an active call to faith and confident expectation. It’s an invitation to trust in God’s unwavering faithfulness, even when the present circumstances offer no immediate clarity. This concept aligns perfectly with biblical injunctions to wait on the Lord, as found in Psalm 27:14: "Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord." It’s an enduring reminder that our waiting is purposeful, a period of strengthening and hope. The song culminates in a powerful echo of Psalm 34:8, "O taste and see that the Lord is good." This isn't merely intellectual assent but an experiential invitation to recognize and affirm God's inherent goodness, even when our senses are overwhelmed by pain. It’s a call to find God’s goodness not just in future promises, but in the present moment of faith, trusting that His nature remains unchanged and His promises will be fulfilled, ultimately allowing us to truly "see."