[Verse 1]
You'd think we'd have it figured out
With 2000 years of practising
And we give you little cause to doubt
Just listen to the pretty songs we sing
You'd think we'd have it figured out
All dressed up in Sunday morning chique
Our choir would make any pastor proud
and our altar call's quite busy from week to week
[Pre-Chorus]
But if God's so big how can we think
that we have him figured out
[Chorus]
No we can't reign in the one who reigns
And his majesty can't be contained
Cause he's more than everything we think we've found
We don't have him figured out
[Verse 2]
You'd think we'd have it figured out
If you heard how well that we can preach
We always seem to pull a crowd
And they're always smiling when they leave
[Verse 3]
You'd think we'd know better by now
That God is not relying on our plans
He doesn't need our paper crowns
Cause he holds the world in his sovereign hands
[Chorus]
No we can't reign in the one who reigns
And his majesty can't be contained
Cause he's more than everything we think we've found
We don't have him figured out
[Bridge]
No he's not dependent on our works
To showcase just how much he's worth
[Chorus]
No we can't reign in the one who reigns
And his majesty can't be contained
Cause he's more than everything we think we've found
We don't have him figured out
Figured Out
Song Meaning
Jonny Diaz opens "Figured Out" with an ironic confidence rather than a confession of doubt — "you'd think we'd have it figured out, with 2000 years of practising, and we give you little cause to doubt, just listen to the pretty songs we sing" — letting the church's own polish become the target of its critique.
"All dressed up in Sunday morning chique, our choir would make any pastor proud" keeps the criticism specific to appearance and performance rather than sincerity in general. "But if God's so big how can we think that we have Him figured out" turns the whole verse's irony into a direct question, and the chorus answers plainly: "no we can't reign in the one who reigns, and His majesty can't be contained."
"You'd think we'd know better by now, that God is not relying on our plans, He doesn't need our paper crowns, 'cause He holds the world in His sovereign hands" extends the critique from performance to control, naming the deeper assumption underneath the polish. "He's not dependent on our works to showcase just how much He's worth" closes the bridge separating God's actual worth from anything the church could add to or subtract from it, and the returning chorus repeats its refusal to contain Him one final time.