Photo by Lina Trochez
Christy Nockels is an American Contemporary Christian artist and songwriter. She was formerly part of Sons & Daughters, and Watermark, before she went solo. Both former bands were with her husband Nathan Nockels.
As a solo artist, Nockels released five albums, including:
- Life Light Up (2009)
- Into the Glorious (2012)
- Let It Be Jesus (2015)
- The Thrill of Hope (2016)
- Be Held: Lullabies for the Beloved (2017)
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1. What message does the song communicate?
No obstacle can prevent us from “Your” lovingkindness and revitalization, with our entire life in “Your” grasp. We yield to “You”. We are more than conquerors.
Who is “You”? The only hint we get is from “We’re covered by Your blood”. When Christians hear this phrase, we immediately know it’s referencing Jesus’ shed blood.
Score: 10/10
2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?
All of it does.
Since this song contains no Verse/Chorus/Bridge structure, I assigned stanzas to each paragraph.
Lyrics posted with permission.*
[Stanza 1]
No mountain, no valley, no gain or loss we know
Could keep us from Your love
No sickness, no secret, no chain is strong enough
To keep us from Your love
This is similar to the list of things that cannot separate us from God’s love in Romans 8:38-39.
To keep us from Your love
Repeats line 4.
[Stanza 2]
How high, how wide
Borrows from Ephesians 3:18-19 (18 specifically, 19 included for context).
No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
This is so, because Jesus is the Great Physician (Matthew 9:12, Mark 2:17, and Luke 5:31). How do we know it’s Jesus? Stanza 3 tells us.
[Stanza 3]
Our present, our future, our past is in Your hands
That is, we surrender to Christ (Psalm 43:5, Isaiah 64:8, Matthew 10:38, Matthew 11:28-30, Matthew 16:24, Mark 8:34-38, Mark 10:28, Luke 9:23, Luke 14:27, John 15:1-11, Romans 6:13, Romans 12:1-2, Galatians 2:20, Philippians 2:5-8, Hebrews 11:6, James 4:7-10, and 1 Peter 5:6).
We’re covered by Your blood
More specifically, washed by Jesus’ blood (Ephesians 1:7, Hebrews 9:22, 1 Peter 1:2, and 1 Peter 1:18-19).
Yes, we’re covered by Your blood
Essentially repeats line 2.
[Stanza 4]
How high, How wide
No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
Repeats Stanza 2, lines 1 and 2.
How deep, How strong
See commentary on Stanza 2, lines 1 and 2.
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands
That is, Jesus’ undeserved favor (Genesis 15:6, Exodus 33:19, Psalm 32:1-2, Romans 3:21-24, Romans 4:3-8, Romans 5:1-2, Romans 5:6-8, Romans 5:15-21, Romans 6:14, Romans 8:1-4, Romans 9:14-16, Romans 11:5-6, Galatians 2:21, Galatians 3:6, Galatians 5:4, Ephesians 1:7, Ephesians 2:4-9, 2 Thessalonians 2:16, Titus 2:11, 1 Timothy 1:15-16, and James 2:23).
[Stanza 5]
In all things we know that
We are more than conquerors
As stated in Romans 8:37.
You keep us by Your love
It was love that compelled Jesus to attain and keep us (John 3:16, Romans 5:6-8, and 1 John 4:9-10).
In all things we know that
We are more than conquerors
You keep us by Your love
Yes, you keep us by Your love
Repeats/essentially repeats lines 1-3.
[Stanza 6]
How high, How wide
No matter where I am, healing is in Your hands
How deep, How strong
And now by Your grace I stand, healing is in Your hands
Repeats Stanza 4.
[Stanza 7]
Healing is in Your hands
Healing is in Your hands
Repeats the last part of Stanza 2, line 2.
Holding us together
See Stanza 3, line 1.
Score: 10/10
3. How would an outsider interpret the song?
I’m on the fence about whether or not unbelievers will recognize “covered by Your blood” as Christian, though I am more certain that they won’t know what that means. At the very least, it sounds religious, if not uniquely Christian. Still, the rest of the song will be seen as religious as well, where the followers of “You” will be unseparated from “Your” love, that “Your” followers surrender to “You”, and “You” provides favor and healing.
Score: 7/10
4. What does this song glorify?
It glorifies Jesus as the One who holds us and saves us through His shed blood. Nothing can separate us from His love.
Score: 10/10
Closing Comments
Christy Nockels’ Healing Is in Your Hands is Biblical. We cannot be separated from Jesus’ love, which is vast and deep. We concede to His will. He is our healer. These glorify Him. I’m unsure if unbelievers will know what “covered by His blood” means. However, even if they don’t know its specific meaning, they will know that thing song is religious in nature and may have something to do with Christianity, even if they don’t know what it means.
This song is appropriate for corporate worship. Seeker-sensitive churches should explain what “covered by His blood” means.
Final Score: 9.5/10
Artist Info
Track: Healing Is in Your Hands (listen to the song)
Artist: Christy Nockels
Album: Into the Glorious
Genre: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM)
Release Year: 2012
Duration: 4:24
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*Copyright © 2010 Thankyou Music Ltd (PRS) (adm. worldwide at CapitolCMGPublishing.com excluding the UK & Europe which is adm. at IntegratedRights.com) / Rising Springs Music (ASCAP) worshiptogether.com Songs (ASCAP) Vamos Publishing (ASCAP) Sweater Weather Music (ASCAP) (adm. at CapitolCMGPublishing.com) All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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