Goodness of God Lyrics – Bethel Music feat. Jenn Johnson

“All my life You have been faithful” has become the defining line of a worship song that started in a California church and spread worldwide. “Goodness of God” by Bethel Music feat. Jenn Johnson channels themes from Psalms and Lamentations into a chorus that feels like a personal letter from God. This guide walks through where the song came from, the Bible verses behind it, how the original stacks up against CeCe Winans’ cover, and whether its themes of divine faithfulness make it right for a memorial service.

Original Artists: Bethel Music feat. Jenn Johnson ·
Writers: Jason Ingram, Jenn Johnson, Ben Fielding, Ed Cash, Brian Johnson ·
Album: Peace ·
Popular Cover: CeCe Winans (Live)

Key specifications for the original and CeCe Winans cover versions provide worship teams with the details needed for arrangement.

What is the story behind the song Goodness of God?

Bethel Music, the California-based worship collective, has built a reputation for songs that blend personal testimony with corporate praise. “Goodness of God” fits that pattern perfectly. Jenn Johnson, who leads vocals on the track, is both the primary singer and one of five credited songwriters. According to the official lyric video published on Bethel Music’s YouTube channel, the songwriting team included Ed Cash (also producer), Jason Ingram, Ben Fielding, and Brian Johnson—all established figures in modern worship music.

The song first appeared on Bethel Music’s album “Peace,” released in 2020. That album arrived during a period when many churches were navigating pandemic-era disruptions, and the theme of God’s unchanging faithfulness resonated particularly strongly. PraiseCharts notes that the song was arranged for worship teams by Grant Wall and Daniel Galbraith, making it accessible for congregations with varying musical experience levels.

Song origins and writers

Jenn Johnson’s role as both vocalist and songwriter places her at the center of the song’s narrative. She has spoken publicly about the personal nature of the lyrics, which draw from her own journey of faith. The chorus line—”All my life You have been faithful”—reads like a declaration rather than a question, reflecting a worship style that emphasizes certainty over doubt.

Brian Johnson, Jenn’s husband and fellow Bethel worship leader, also contributed as a songwriter. Ed Cash, a prolific producer and songwriter in Christian music, brought production expertise to the track. Jason Ingram and Ben Fielding rounded out the team, with Fielding being an Australian songwriter known for his work with Hillsong and other worship collectives.

The five-writer model is common in contemporary worship music, where songs often undergo multiple rounds of refinement before reaching their final form. Each writer typically contributes verses or phrases that align with the collective’s vision for the album.

Bethel Music context

Bethel Music operates both as a recording artist and a worship resource provider. Their church in Redding, California, has become a hub for worship musicians nationwide. The collective publishes chord charts and lyric sheets through their official website, and third-party platforms like PraiseCharts distribute those arrangements to worship teams globally.

The “Peace” album represented a deliberate thematic focus for Bethel Music. Rather than releasing singles, the collective built an album around a single concept—God’s peace as an anchor amid chaos. “Goodness of God” fits that framework by emphasizing God’s character (“goodness,” “faithfulness”) as the basis for trust.

“All my life You have been faithful, All my life You have been so, so good.” — Jenn Johnson, from the chorus of “Goodness of God”

The pattern shows how Bethel Music uses collaborative songwriting to create songs that work both as personal prayers and congregational anthems.

What Bible verse is the song Goodness of God?

While no artist has publicly stated that “Goodness of God” adapts a single Bible verse verbatim, the song clearly echoes themes from the Psalms and prophetic literature. Most commonly, worship leaders link the song to Psalm 23:6—”Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life”—which appears in guitar tutorial videos and chord sheet notes.

The concept of God’s goodness “running after” the believer appears in other passages, including Hosea 6:3 (“His going out is sure”) and Lamentations 3:22-23, which speaks of God’s mercies being “new every morning.” The song’s bridge line—”Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me”—appears to draw from this tradition of describing God’s pursuit as an active, ongoing force.

Key scriptural inspirations

The most frequently cited connection is Psalm 23:6. In many church settings, this verse accompanies the song during communion services or moments of reflection. The verse speaks of God’s goodness and mercy as companions that follow the believer through life, which aligns with the song’s theme of lifelong divine presence.

Lamentations 3:22-23 is another likely influence, given its emphasis on God’s faithfulness being renewed daily: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning.” The song’s line “I love You Lord, Oh Your mercy never fails me” echoes this language directly.

The phrase “in my darkest night You were close like no other” from verse 2 carries resonances with Psalm 22:1-2 (David’s cry in the darkness) and Psalm 23:4 (“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, You are with me”). The song doesn’t quote these passages, but it inhabits the same emotional territory.

Lyrics to Bible mapping

These lyric-to-scripture connections are commonly noted in worship resources and tutorial materials.

Who is the real singer of Goodness of God?

Jenn Johnson is the lead vocalist on the original Bethel Music recording. She has been part of Bethel Music since the collective’s early years and has contributed as both singer and songwriter on multiple albums. Her vocal style—warm, unhurried, and introspective—suits the song’s reflective tone.

The song credits list her as both vocalist and songwriter, making her the primary creative figure behind the track. Her husband Brian Johnson also appears as a songwriter, and the couple has collaborated on several Bethel Music releases over the years.

Original performer Jenn Johnson

Jenn Johnson serves as a worship leader and songwriter at Bethel Church in Redding, California. Beyond her work with Bethel Music, she has authored books on worship and spoken at conferences. Her approach to songwriting often begins with personal prayer and journal entries, which she then shapes into congregational lyrics.

The original recording features her voice prominently in the verses, with the full Bethel Music ensemble joining for the choruses. This dynamic—intimate lead vocal against communal response—mirrors traditional call-and-response worship structures.

Popular covers by CeCe Winans

CeCe Winans, the Grammy-winning gospel singer, recorded a live cover of “Goodness of God” for her album “Believe For It.” Her version, released in 2021, transposes the song into a lower key (Ab instead of G) and sets it at 63 BPM in 4/4 time. The arrangement features more gospel-style vocal embellishments, which align with Winans’ musical identity.

CeCe Winans’ version has introduced the song to gospel audiences who might not be familiar with Bethel Music’s worship repertoire. Chord charts for her arrangement are available through Encompass Worship, and guitar tutorial videos cover both versions side-by-side.

“Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me.” — Song lyrics, from the bridge of “Goodness of God”

Goodness of God Lyrics

The full lyrics structure follows a verse-chorus-bridge pattern common in contemporary worship music. Below is the verse-by-verse breakdown, drawn from the official Bethel Music lyric video.

Full verse by verse lyrics

Verse 1: “I love You Lord, Oh Your mercy never fails me / And all my days I’ve been held in Your hands / From the moment that I wake up until I lay my head / Oh, I know You are good.”

Chorus: “All my life You have been faithful / All my life You have been so, so good / With every breath that I am able / Oh, I gonna sing of Your goodness, God.”

Verse 2: “I love Your voice, You have led me through the fire / In my darkest night You were close like no other / When I’ve felt the pain You’ve shown me there’s no other / Oh, I know You are good.”

Bridge: “Your goodness is running after, it’s running after me / With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now / I surrender all to You.”

Final Chorus/Vamp: The final chorus repeats with intensity, often building to a climactic moment in live settings.

Chorus and bridge

The chorus hook—”All my life You have been faithful”—is the song’s signature line. It works because it asserts a universal truth (“all my life”) rather than asking a question. For worshippers, this creates a space for affirming their own story within the songwriter’s framework.

The bridge introduces a more vulnerable note: “With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now.” This line marks a shift from declaration to commitment, and worship leaders often use it as a moment for congregational response or silent prayer.

Is Goodness of God a good funeral song?

The song’s themes of faithfulness, mercy, and eternal goodness align well with funeral and memorial settings. Churches across denominational lines have used it for memorial services, and the lyrics’ emphasis on God’s unchanging character offers comfort to grieving families.

Suitability for memorials

Funeral songs typically fall into two categories: those that express grief honestly and those that affirm hope in something beyond death. “Goodness of God” leans toward the latter, with lines like “All my life You have been faithful” functioning as a declaration of trust rather than a lament.

The song works best when paired with a pastoral message that expands on its themes. On its own, the lyrics speak of God’s goodness in general terms, which may feel abstract to mourners looking for specific comfort. However, worship leaders can bridge this gap by briefly connecting the song to scripture or testimony.

Pentecostal worship fit

The song fits naturally within Pentecostal and charismatic worship contexts, where congregational singing and emotional expression are expected. Its key (G with capo 1) and tempo make it accessible for most worship bands, and the chord progression (typically I-IV-V-I in modern worship style) follows familiar patterns.

For Pentecostal memorial services specifically, the song’s “surrender” theme in the bridge can be adapted as a call to faith or recommitment, which aligns with the evangelistic emphasis common in those traditions.

“With my life laid down, I’m surrendered now.” — Bridge lyrics from “Goodness of God”

The pattern: churches that emphasize God’s ongoing presence (“You have been faithful”) and future hope (“goodness is running after me”) will find this song fits naturally into memorial and baptismal services alike. The song’s flexibility across worship traditions is one reason it has spread globally.