People are always saying how they’ve got it together. How they’re strong enough to deal with certain situations. How they just need to try harder to make it through tough things and everything will be okay. Contemporary music focuses around the notion of believing in yourself and you’ll be okay to get through difficult times. And while that’s all encouraging and inspiring, I find it to be the furthest thing from the truth. It’s not because I know people’s lives. I don’t know what you’re dealing with, I don’t know how you’re dealing with it. But I know it’s the furthest thing from the truth because I’m living proof. 

I’m living proof that you don’t have it in you. 

I don’t have it in me to get through difficult times. I don’t have it in me to simply be stronger and believe in myself and everything will just get better. I don’t. But that’s okay, you want to know why? Because Jesus has it in Him. He is strength, grace, mercy, peace, direction, provision, and everything you’ll ever need. And the reason that I can get through all of those difficult situations isn’t because of anything in me. It’s not belief in myself and my abilities. It’s belief in Jesus and His abilities. Because I was bound by sin, addicted to sin, and Jesus set me free. I was dead, and Jesus brought me to life. I was and still am broken, but instead of abandoning me, He chose to pick up the pieces and start putting me back together. And I had no ability to do any of those things myself. My freedom wasn’t dependent on me and my actions, because I could not even come close to freeing myself. My freedom came from Him, and Him alone.

So that’s why it’s okay.

That’s why it’s okay that I don’t have it in me. That’s why it’s okay that you don’t have it in you. Because it was never designed to be in us, it’s always been in Him. So put all your faith in Him, because He’s got it in Himself to bring you through any trial, temptation, and addiction. That’s the beauty of His love and grace.