Elevation Worship vs. Aware Worship | Head 2 Head

In the 27^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Elevation Worship and Aware Worship contend for the best rendition of “Trust in God.”

Welcome to Head 2 Head! On Head 2 Head, we pit at least two musicians performing the same song, comparing their respective performances.  Then, after much deliberation, we deliver a verdict of which performance was the best, or at least, subjectively, which performance moved us more.  In the 27^th edition of Head 2 Head (2024), Elevation Worship and Aware Worship contend for the best rendition of “Trust in God”. So, without further ado, let the Head 2 Head commence!

1. Elevation Worship, “Trust in God”

CAN YOU IMAGINE? // Elevation Worship // 2023

“‘Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine’ / He’s been my fourth man in the fire time after time.” The soul-stirring, contemporary Christian song, “Trust in God” begins by quoting a beloved hymn whose lyrics were penned by Fanny Crosby.  From there, this gem from contemporary worship band, Elevation Worship (out of Elevation Church) and Chris Brown (not the R&B artist) reference Daniel 3:24-26, where King Nebuchadnezzar is amazed to see the three men thrown in the fire, unharmed, as well as a fourth, described as a divine being – a son of the gods. After quoting “Blessed Assurance” once more, Brown, who leads, testifies, “And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough.” And because of His awesomeness, Brown proclaims in the tuneful, rousing chorus, “I trust in God, my Savior / The One who will never fail / He will never fail.” Amen!

That’s merely one verse and the chorus of “Trust in God,” written by Brown, Brandon Lake, Steven Furtick, and Mitch Wong.  From the beginning, “Trust in God” speaks to God’s awesomeness, goodness, and mercifulness. It ministers why He should be lauded and magnified – He is great! In the second verse, Brown testifies more, describing God as “the author of tomorrow has ordered my steps.” Hallelujah! In the bridge, Elevation Worship lauds Him even more: “I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered / That’s why I trust him, that’s why I trust him.” “Trust in God” is powerful and encourages the heart and soul.

Appears in 🔻:

• Elevation Worship, Trust In God: Music Lifts 🎶 🏋 26 (2024)

2. Aware Worship, “Trust In God”

“Trust in God” // Aware Worship // 2024

“Born of His Spirit, washed in His blood / And what He did for me on Calvary is more than enough.” Aware Worship gives praise, honor, and glory to God in their inspirational song, “Trust in God”.  Notably, this contemporary Christian song quotes the hymn, “Blessed Assurance.” “Trust in God” was originally performed by Elevation Worship. Chris Brown sings lead in the original, a role that worship leader Mark Gutierrez assumes in the Aware Worship cover.  Even though “Trust in God” is a cover, Gutierrez and company make it sound original.

The spirit is lofty from the beginning.  Gutierrez sings authentically with the utmost sincerity.  Watch the accompanying music video and you can also see his immense faith. The choir, likewise, provides support that sounds heartfelt – sincere without question. They are witness to the greatness and wonder-working power of God. They share the ministry through the music superbly.  From the Aware Worship perspective, “Trust in God” leans into gospel music more than CCM. Gutierrez makes brilliant vocal choices with his ad-libs.  The riffs and runs are dynamic and soulful, upping the ante. With the text inspiring itself – “I trust in God, my Savior / The one who will never fail / He will never fail” and “I sought the Lord and He heard, and He answered” – high-flying vocals only elevate the spirit to higher heights.  “Trust in God” by Aware Worship is truly a blessing.

Appears in 🔻:

• Aware Worship, Trust In God: Covers No. 25 (2024)

The Verdict 👨🏿‍⚖️ 

So, which worship collective performed “Trust in God” the best? Is it the original by Elevation Worship featuring Chris Brown on lead or the cover by Aware Worship, led by Mark Gutierrez? It is tough to decide between these two as both groups do a stellar job. More importantly, both collectives praise God – making a joyful noise unto the Lord 🙌! It’s a matter of preference when choosing one performance over the other.  I prefer the gospelized take by Aware Worship ever so slightly.  It was the first version of the song I heard before researching the original.  But, given how awesome and meaningful both recordings are, I’m calling this one a tie.

Elevation Worship vs. Aware Worship: Head 2 Head No. 27 (2024) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Aware Worship, Elevation Worship; Hernán Toro, Los Muertos Crew, RDNE Stock project, Thomas Ronveaux from Pexels]