In 2002, the band released their popular second album, Spoken For, which produced two more Top 10 hits. The combined success of the band's first two albums garnered a nomination for the Favorite Contemporary Inspirational Artist at the American Music Awards.
In 2004, MercyMe released Undone which produced two Top 10 hits: Here With Me which also hit Billboard's Top 100 chart that same year, and In The Blink of an Eye which, as of the end of 2005, was at #5 on R&R's top Christian hits. In 2005 they also released their Christmas album titled The Christmas Sessions.
2006 saw the release of the album Coming Up to Breathe, which peaked at number one on the Billboard Top Christian Albums, and #13 on the Billboard 200 album chart. Also released was Coming Up to Breathe Acoustic.
In 2007, MercyMe released their newest album, All That Is Within Me, which debuted at #15 on the Billboard Top 200 Chart.
In 2010 they released The Generous Mr. Lovewell. The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 and number one on the Christian Albums chart.
August 30, 2011 they released an album titled The Worship Sessions; it's currently exclusive to Family Christian Bookstores and can not be found on iTunes or Amazon.
The The Hurt & The Healer Songfacts says that their eighth major label studio album, The Hurt & Tye Healer, will be released on May 22, 2012. The record was produced by Brown Bannister and Dan Muckala and is centered around the concept of bringing healing to the hurting.
Wishful Thinking
MercyMe Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And just now understand who You are?
Feeling foolish yet relieved as well
'Cause what I bought before, I just can't sell
But now my eyes are open wide
If this is wrong
I don't wanna be right
Could it be that on my worst day
How you love me still will not change
What if it's really not about
What I do but what you did, oh what if
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
Well, I guess I'm better late than not at all
Or did you plan it this way all along
'Cause without suffering grace is hard to see
So maybe I'm right where I'm supposed to be
And now, I'm thinking you so differently
And all I can say is finally
Could it be that on my worst day
How you love me simply will not change
What if it's really not about
What I do but what you did, oh what if
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
It's how it is
But now my eyes are open wide
If this is wrong Lord do not make me, don't you make me right
Now I know that on my worst day
The way you love me it ain't never change
It's never really been about what I do but what you did
Yes it is
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
This ain't wishful thinking it's just how it is
In the opening lines of MercyMe's "Wishful Thinking," the singer is expressing a revelation about his understanding of God. He is recognizing that he had gone so far in his life not truly knowing who God was. However, with newfound clarity, he is feeling embarrassed and relieved at the same time, acknowledging the foolishness and shortcoming of his past beliefs. He accepts that what he knew before, he can no longer stand by. The following line, "But now my eyes are open wide, if this is wrong I don't wanna be right," shows that he now knows what he has been missing, and he cannot unsee the truth.
The chorus of the song speaks to the singer's realization that God's love is not dependent on what he does or doesn't do. It's almost as if he's surprised that God could love him so much despite his shortcomings. He is accepting the grace that is freely given by God without need for justification. The final lines of the song repeat this message, "This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is, this ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is."
Overall, the song speaks to the universality of God's love and grace that is offered to all, regardless of our failures or shortcomings.
Line by Line Meaning
Lord is it possible to get this far
Is it conceivable that we have come this far without truly understanding who God is?
And just now understand who You are?
Have we only now realized the true nature of God?
Feeling foolish yet relieved as well
Despite feeling foolish, there is a sense of relief as we acknowledge the truth.
'Cause what I bought before, I just can’t sell
We cannot undo our mistakes or change the past.
But now my eyes are open wide
We have gained new understanding and insight.
If this is wrong
If our newfound understanding is incorrect,
I don’t wanna be right
We would rather be wrong than go back to our previous ignorance.
Could it be that on my worst day
Is it possible that even in our lowest moments,
How you love me still will not change
God's love for us remains constant no matter what.
What if it’s really not about
Perhaps the focus isn't on,
What I do but what you did, oh what if
What we do, but on what God has done for us.
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
These thoughts are not merely hopeful wishes, but reality.
Well, I guess I’m better late than not at all
It's better to have come to this realization late than never.
Or did you plan it this way all along
Is it possible that God intended for us to arrive at this realization later in life?
'Cause without suffering grace is hard to see
It can be difficult to truly understand grace without experiencing suffering.
So maybe I’m right where I’m supposed to be
Perhaps we are exactly where God intends for us to be in this moment.
And now, I'm thinking you so differently
Our perception of God has changed significantly.
And all I can say is finally
Our response to this realization is simply one of relief and gratitude.
Now I know that on my worst day
We now understand that even at our lowest point,
The way you love me it ain’t never change
God's love for us remains unwavering.
It’s never really been about what I do but what you did
The focus has always been on what God has done for us, not what we can do for Him.
Yes it is
This is the reality of our relationship with God.
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This realization is not wishful thinking, it is the truth.
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This realization is not wishful thinking, it is the truth.
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This realization is not wishful thinking, it is the truth.
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This realization is not wishful thinking, it is the truth.
Lyrics © CAPITOL CHRISTIAN MUSIC GROUP, Capitol CMG Publishing
Written by: BARRY GRAUL, BART MILLARD, BEN GLOVER, DAVID ARTHUR GARCIA, MIKE SCHEUCHZER, NATHAN COCHRAN, ROBBY SHAFFER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@jCole-px7lo
In case you want to sing along like I do!
Lord is it possible to get this far
And just now understand who You are?
Feeling foolish yet relieved as well
'Cause what I bought before, I just can’t sell
But now my eyes are open wide
If this is wrong
I don’t wanna be right
Could it be that on my worst day
How you love me still will not change
What if it’s really not about
What I do but what you did, oh what if
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
Well, I guess I’m better late than not at all
Or did you plan it this way all along
'Cause without suffering grace is hard to see
So maybe I’m right where I’m supposed to be
And now, I'm thinking you so differently
And all I can say is finally
Could it be that on my worst day
How you love me simply will not change
What if it’s really not about
What I do but what you did, oh what if
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
It’s how it is
But now my eyes are open wide
If this is wrong Lord do not make me, don't you make me right
Now I know that on my worst day
The way you love me it ain’t never change
It’s never really been about what I do but what you did
Yes it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
@hannahlynn8685
LYRICS
Lord is it possible to get this far
And just now understand who You are?
Feeling foolish yet relieved as well
'Cause what I bought before, I just can’t sell
But now my eyes are open wide
If this is wrong
I don’t wanna be right
Could it be that on my worst day
How you love me still will not change
What if it’s really not about
What I do but what you did, oh what if
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
Well, I guess I’m better late than not at all
Or did you plan it this way all along
'Cause without suffering grace is hard to see
So maybe I’m right where I’m supposed to be
And now, I'm thinking you so differently
And all I can say is finally
Could it be that on my worst day
How you love me simply will not change
What if it’s really not about
What I do but what you did, oh what if
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
It’s how it is
But now my eyes are open wide
If this is wrong Lord do not make me, don't you make me right
Now I know that on my worst day
The way you love me it ain’t never change
It’s never really been about what I do but what you did
Yes it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
This ain’t wishful thinking it’s just how it is
@Ronalea
Thank you Mercy Me!! Your music lifts me up no matter how low I feel. God is using you in ways you don't even know.
@abbychandler8709
whenever I listen to secular music, yes its catchy, but I don't feel happy and I sure don't feel joyful. But when I come to music like this, I get chills and I know that's Jesus living in me. I feel so joyful when I listen to and praise him
@KD-ns1hn
Agreed...TOTALLY!
@evildustbunnie9187
Thats because of the holy sirit! I don't listen to secular music anymore. Thats part of my old life. I want to live in obedience to him and keep my mind on him! Music ministers to me in so many ways.
@joymaddoxlister7344
Abby Chandler. ME TOO ,
@roseleesaunders3206
Gave my life to him
@kathybranic9410
I agree.
@annetterobertson
I THINK THIS IS RIGHT ON TIME! I feel, like many, this CD was made especially for me! Thank you for allowing God to work in and through all of you in such a special way. Not just for me, but for all of us who need to hear the words and music you bless our hearts and spirits with!
@sharonewig3900
Praise God all day long!!! Keep these songs coming. Praise God.
@Lpsgogo
These people came and sang this at my church, it was a girl and a boy, and the boy was playing the guitar. Since they didn't have a saxophone player, the boy would whistle the saxophone part, it was so amazing because I can't even whistle!!! :D