Lay your head down tonight
Take a rest from the fight
Don’t try to figure it out
Just listen to what I’m whispering to your heart
‘Cause I know this is not
Anything like you thought
The story of your life was gonna be
And it feels like the end has started closing in on you
But it’s just not true
There’s so much of the story that’s still yet to unfold
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
You’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
God’s plan from the start
For this world and your heart
Has been to show His glory and His grace
Forever revealing the depth and the beauty of
His unfailing Love
And the story has only begun
And this is going to be a glorious unfolding
Just you wait and see and you will be amazed
We’ve just got to believe the story is so far from over
So hold on to every promise God has made to us
And watch this glorious unfolding
We were made to run through fields of forever
Singing songs to our Savior and King
So let us remember this life we’re living
Is just the beginning of the beginning
Of this glorious unfolding
We will watch and see and we will be amazed
If we just keep on believing the story is so far from over
And hold on to every promise God has made to us
We’ll see the glorious unfolding
Just watch and see (unfolding)
This is just the beginning of the beginning (unfolding)
The Glorious Unfolding
The Glorious Unfolding Song Meaning, Biblical Reference and Inspiration
Steven Curtis Chapman's song "The Glorious Unfolding" offers a deeply comforting message to listeners navigating life's unexpected and often challenging turns. It opens with a gentle invitation to find rest and peace amidst the struggle, acknowledging that reality may differ significantly from what one envisioned. The lyrics counter the feeling that the end is near, instead positioning current difficulties not as a conclusion, but as part of a much larger narrative that is still actively developing. This initial assurance serves as a foundation for the hopeful message that follows.
The central theme revolves around the concept of a "glorious unfolding." The song presents life, particularly from a faith perspective, as a story written by a divine hand. It encourages a posture of belief and patience, suggesting that by waiting and watching, one will ultimately be amazed at the unfolding plan. The call to trust in this process implies surrendering the need for complete understanding in the present moment, finding solace in the promise of a future revealing of God's purpose and goodness.
Fundamentally, the song speaks to God's eternal intention, which is to display His glory and grace through both the world and individual lives. This unfolding is portrayed as a continuous revelation of the depth and beauty of His unfailing love. From this perspective, the struggles faced are not deviations from the story but integral parts of a grand design that has only just begun to reveal itself, promising much more beyond the immediate horizon.
Elevating the perspective further, the song reminds listeners of a spiritual destiny beyond earthly confines, referencing being made to run through "fields of forever." This line underscores the idea that the present life, with its challenges and triumphs, is merely "the beginning of the beginning" of an eternal journey. This broader view places current circumstances within the context of an everlasting purpose and a relationship with a Savior and King, providing motivation to persevere.
Ultimately, the song provides a clear pathway for navigating the present: holding onto every promise God has made. It reinforces that maintaining belief in the ongoing, unfinished nature of the story and anchoring oneself to divine assurances allows one to witness this glorious unfolding. Released with an accompanying music video on July 21, 2014, the song has continued to resonate, offering its message of enduring hope and divine purpose. The themes echo biblical truths found in passages like Jeremiah 29:11, which speaks of God's plans for welfare and a future hope, and Romans 8:28, which affirms that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him. The call to hold onto promises aligns with Hebrews 10:23, urging steadfastness in the hope we profess because God is faithful, and the vision of a future completion reflects the promise in Philippians 1:6 that He who began a good work will carry it on to completion. These scriptures provide a foundational basis for the song's message of trusting in a divine narrative that is far from over.
