Lyrics Page
This Is Now
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Oct 10, 2026 updated
Thrive album
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Casting Crowns' “This Is Now” is sung from the perspective of Peter, the fisherman who left his nets to follow Jesus and later failed him. The first lines set the scene, “Standing at the water's edge, I dropped my dreams when I dropped my nets,” and then comes the contrast that frames the song: “But that was then, and this is now.”
The verses move through memories of that first call. He recalls having his feet washed, swearing he would never let Jesus down, and wishing he could “be that man again.” He watched a blind man look his Savior in the eyes and a dead man take a breath, and he remembers stepping onto the waves until the storm inside him made him sink. The turning point is the line “Just when I thought my sin has closed the door, I see my Savior standing on the shore with arms wide open.” Jesus answers by saying he bore the cross and wore the crown, and that “my love came down” when the sinner could not come up. The closing line gives the reassurance: “You'll never be that man again.”
The restoration of Peter on the shore is John 21:15-17. Peter walking on water and sinking is Matthew 14:29-31, and the welcome of a returning son is Luke 15:20.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team
I dropped my dreams when I dropped my nets
No hesitation, no regrets
I followed You
But that was then
And this is now
You washed my feet and You changed my name
I swore I'd never be the same
But just like the tides, I guess people change
Cause that was then
And this is now
I wish I could go back but I don't know how
I remember when I stood my ground
I swore I'd never let You down
I want to be that man again
But that was then
And this is now
I watched the blind man lift his head
And look his Savior in the eyes
I heard a dead man take a breath
Dropped to my knees as I watched him rise
And I felt the sea beneath my feet
As I stepped out on the angry waves
But You saw the storm raging within
You reached out and calmed me then
But this is now
Just when I thought my sin has closed the door
I see my Savior standing on the shore
With arms wide open
Just like the first time You called my name
You said that was then
And this is now
My child, I bore your cross, I wore your crown
When you couldn't come to me, my love came down
So take My hand, I'll lead you out
Cause that was then
And this is now
My child, I bore your cross, I wore your crown
You couldn't come to me so my love came down
Take my hand, Ill lead you out
You'll never be that man again
Cause that was then
And this is now