[Verse 1]
I'm the boy with loaves and fish
Such an unimpressive gift
It's not a lot, but it's all I got
So I lay it at your feet
[Verse 2]
I'm the paralytic son
And I'm a lame man trying to run
But you welcome me, sit down and eat
At the table of your love
At the table of your love
[Chorus]
'Cause I could run like Jonah
But I'd never get away
And go down like Lazarus
But you pull me from the grave
And I could throw away everything you gave me
You would throw away everything to save me
I am the prodigal
But you're the prodigal God
[Verse 3]
And I'm a doubter just like Thomas
Lord, you never broke your promise
So when I can't see, I'll still believe
On this side of the grave
[Verse 4]
And I still get scared like Peter
When you call me out to meet you
But the wind and waves, they still obey
The one who made it all
You're the one who made it all, yeah
[Chorus]
'Cause I could run like Jonah
But I'd never get away
And go down like Lazarus
But you pull me from the grave
And I could throw away everything you gave me
You would throw away everything to save me
I am the prodigal
But you're the prodigal God
[Bridge]
We're all children
With sons and daughters
Loved by the Father
Everyone
We're all welcome
We're all accepted
And no one rejected
No, not even one
[Chorus]
'Cause I could run like Jonah
But I'd never get away
And go down like Lazarus
But you pull me from the grave
And I could throw away everything you gave me
You would throw away everything to save me
I am the prodigal
But you're the prodigal God
[Outro]
'Cause I could run like Jonah
But I'd never get away
And go down like Lazarus
But you pull me from the grave
And I could throw away everything you gave me
You would throw away everything to save me
I am the prodigal
But you're the prodigal God, yeah
I am the prodigal
But you're the prodigal God
Lyrics Page
Prodigal God
17 views
Sep 10, 2026 updated
Verified editorial review
Song Meaning
Cory Asbury's 'Prodigal God' turns the familiar parable inside out, shifting the spotlight from the wayward son to the reckless, lavish love of the Father. The lyrics weave together a tapestry of biblical figures—the boy with loaves and fish, the paralytic, Jonah, Lazarus, Thomas, and Peter—each one a confession of human frailty met with divine persistence. The chorus lands the central paradox: 'I am the prodigal, but you're the prodigal God.' Here, the word 'prodigal' is redefined not as wasteful sin but as wasteful grace—a love that spends itself completely to rescue the undeserving. The bridge expands this into a universal embrace: 'We're all children... loved by the Father... no one rejected.' It's a worship anthem that acknowledges our tendency to run, doubt, and sink, yet anchors itself in the truth that God's pursuit outruns our rebellion and his power outlasts our weakness. The song doesn't gloss over the struggle; it names the fear and the failure, then answers with the image of a God who pulls us from the grave and calls us to the table. Ultimately, it's a declaration that our identity is not found in our wandering but in the Father's relentless welcome.
Lyrics Verified by Editorial Team