Nichole Nordeman is an award-winning contemporary Christian singer-songwrit… Read Full Bio ↴Nichole Nordeman is an award-winning contemporary Christian singer-songwriter from the United States.

Nichole Nordeman was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she played the piano in church. She got her start when she entered a Gospel Music Association (GMA) contest in Los Angeles, California and was noticed by a music producer. She has won multiple GMA Dove Awards, including two awards for Female Vocalist of the Year. Her best-known songs include "Why," "This Mystery," "Holy", "Legacy," "Brave," and "What If." She also sang a song on the soundtrack Music Inspired by the Chronicles of Narnia, called "I Will Believe"

Small Enough
Nichole Nordeman Lyrics

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Oh, great God
Be small enough to hear me now

There were times when I was crying
From the dark of Daniel's den
And I had asked you once or twice
If you would part the sea again

Tonight I do not need a
Fiery pillar in the sky
Just want to know you're gonna
Hold me if I start to cry

Oh, great God
Be small enough to hear me now
Oh, great God
Be close enough to feel me now
(Oh great God be close to me)

There have been moments when I could not face
Goliath on my own
And how could I forget we marched
Around our share of Jericho's

But I will not be setting out
The fleece for you tonight
Just wanna know if everything will be alright
Oh, great God be close enough to feel me now

Oh, praise and all the honor be
To the God of ancient mysteries
Whose every sign and wonder
Turn the pages of our history

But tonight my heart is heavy
And I cannot keep from whispering, whispering
Are you there?

And I know you could leave writing
On the wall that's just for me
Or send wisdom while I'm sleeping
Like in Solomon's sweet dreams

I don't need the strength of Sampson
Or a chariot in the end
Just wanna know you still know how many
Hairs are on my head

Oh, great God
(Are you small enough)

Be small enough to hear
Me now

Overall Meaning

The song "Small Enough" by Nichole Nordeman expresses the raw vulnerability of a person who is facing hardships and seeking comfort from God. The opening lines "Oh, great God, be small enough to hear me now" reveals how daunting and overwhelming it can feel to reach out to a higher power. The singer recalls moments from the Bible such as Daniel's den, parting of the sea, Goliath, and the march around Jericho's. However, the singer admits that tonight he or she does not need grand displays of power or signs. The singer just wants to feel the closeness of God and to know that God is there to hold him or her when crying.

The singer acknowledges and praises the greatness of God in turning the pages of history with his signs and wonders. However, the singer brings focus back to the present and the current situation, asking God to be present and hear his or her cries. The singer then describes how he or she does not need strength or grandeur, just the comfort in the knowledge that God is aware and present in every detail of his or her life, such as knowing the number of hairs on his or her head. The song ultimately expresses the humanness of needing comfort in times of crisis.

Line by Line Meaning

Oh, great God
Addressing the almighty God

Be small enough to hear me now
God, please listen to me and my plea

There were times when I was crying
There have been several instances when I was in tears

From the dark of Daniel's den
Comparing the tough times with the biblical story of Daniel's trouble

And I had asked you once or twice
Asking God for his help on more than one occasion

If you would part the sea again
Requesting God to show the same divine power He used in parting the sea before

Tonight I do not need a
Currently, all I request and require is not

Fiery pillar in the sky
Anything spectacular or grand

Just want to know you're gonna
All I require is that you will

Hold me if I start to cry
God's guidance and support when I start to break down emotionally

Be close enough to feel me now
Asking God to stay close and connected with me.

There have been moments when I could not face
Instances when I was overwhelmed and could not confront

Goliath on my own
Problems that were too big and significant for me to tackle alone

And how could I forget we marched
Reflecting on past experiences of facing hardships and making it through

Around our share of Jericho's
Making an allusion to another biblical story of conquering Jericho with help from God

But I will not be setting out
Asserting that I will not be seeking any signs or miracles from God

The fleece for you tonight
Alluding to a story in the bible where Gideon asks God to prove His word by making a sheepskin wet while keeping the ground dry.

Just wanna know if everything will be alright
At this moment, I need assurance and confirmation that everything is going to be OK

Oh, praise and all the honor be
Giving all praise, adoration, and honour

To the God of ancient mysteries
To God who is known for his mysterious ways

Whose every sign and wonder
Referring to God's works and miracles

Turn the pages of our history
Whose works and miracles have been recorded in history books

But tonight my heart is heavy
However, my heart is currently burdened

And I cannot keep from whispering, whispering
Cannot stop myself from whispering to God for help and guidance

Are you there?
Asking God if He's still there for me

And I know you could leave writing
Acknowledging that God could leave a sign

On the wall that's just for me
A reference to the biblical story of Belshazzar's feast, where a human form appeared and wrote on the wall

Or send wisdom while I'm sleeping
God's guidance in the form of a dream or knowledge which wakes up with me

Like in Solomon's sweet dreams
An allusion to the story of King Solomon, whose dreams were used to grant him wisdom