[Verse 1] I was just glad to be forgiven Just thankful I could speak His name I didn’t know how much the calling Would ask me to endure the pain Then came the words I never expected The ones that cut behind the smile I learned how quickly hurt can teach you To build a wall a mile high [Pre-Chorus] But walls can keep the arrows out And still keep mercy from getting through [Chorus] Give me thick skin and a soft heart Strong enough to take the scars Let the arrows hit the armor But don’t let hatred get that far If the fight is gonna change me Lord, change me into who You are Give me shoulders for the burden Thick skin and a soft heart [Verse 2] I started seeing every stranger Like someone waiting for their turn I called it wisdom, called it caution But underneath, my heart had burned You never asked me to be helpless You never told me not to stand But You never gave me permission To let bitterness make me hard [Pre-Chorus] I can guard what You’ve entrusted Without closing off my soul [Chorus] Give me thick skin and a soft heart Strong enough to take the scars Let the arrows hit the armor But don’t let hatred get that far If the fight is gonna change me Lord, change me into who You are Give me shoulders for the burden Thick skin and a soft heart [Bridge] You were lied about and hated You were wounded by Your own Still forgiveness left Your lips While You hung there all alone So when pride says, “Make them pay” And anger tells me who they are Remind me what Your mercy looked like With nails driven through Your arms [Final Chorus] Give me thick skin and a soft heart Faithful when the road gets hard Let me stand without becoming Everything that left the scars If the fight is gonna change me Lord, change me into who You are Give me courage without cruelty Thick skin and a soft heart [Outro] The hardest thing I’ve ever learned Was how to bleed Without becoming hard.
