Chris Stapleton sings, “I met God at rock bottom when I had nothing left. He didn’t give up on me. He turned my shame into a story and my pain into belief.”
Yes, life is like a country song. Lyrics come from a life lived on its own terms. Redemption comes on God’s terms.
“The true story of every person in the world is not the story you see, the external story. The true story of each person is the journey of his or her heart.”— John Eldredge, “The Sacred Romance.”
We all have our story. We all have our song. Jelly Roll spoke at the Grammys. After winning Best Contemporary Country award, he shocked the glamorous crowd with his unashamed heart speech: “There were days that I was broken. I thought the darkest things. I believe God has the power to change my life. To tell y’all right now, Jesus is for everybody. Jesus, I’m listening, Lord.”
We will brush against the sins of the world, but we do not have to drink the dregs of it. Jesus drank them for us. Yes, I have fallen into sin and it was like gall in my throat. Sin feels good for a season, but it comes with the vileness of what it really is. Everything becomes ugly. We hate ourselves for being there. We are ashamed and feel the guilt. We believe we have thrown our lives away and we will count for nothing.
And then God reaches down and pulls us up, out of love, and gives us a new song. David writes these lyrics: “He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God” (Psalms 40: 2, 3 NKJV).
Jesus’ wine is sweet, but must be experienced with a humble heart. Stout, proud hearts expect to receive entitlement. It doesn’t work that way. Surrendered hearts are brought to their knees in thanksgiving for God’s grace upon their lives. This is God’s terms.
Today, my faith in Jesus continues to grow. I can trust Him to hold me honest and keep me close to Him for my last days on this earth. If I do something stupid, God will, if necessary, tether me to the Tree of Life. I’m counting on God’s grace to keep me strong and in His way until He takes me home.
When we have been touched by God, we can’t go back. More is required of us than of others. I paraphrase Jesus’ words, “I have asked more of you, because you can’t be pleased with anything less.” It is so true. I want more and more of His touch and the fragrance of His Spirit, no matter how it hurts at the time.
T. Graham Brown, American country music singer and songwriter, led a life of destruction, but finally turned around. He tried to fight his addiction by himself. Out of desperation he asked God for help. “An’ now, on my knees, I’m turning to You, Father. Could you help me turn the wine back into water?”
This country song was released Aug. 25, 1998, and is one of his classics. He paid a big price for his life of destruction to write these lyrics. Hitting rock bottom is sometimes necessary.
Thom Owens says, “Wine Into Water is one of Brown’s very best albums, not only because it finds him coming to terms with his own personal demons, but because it is so well-crafted.”
I have lived my story. I’ve song my song. In my downfall, Jesus didn’t turn away from me. He came through the rustle of the pine trees outside my window. He came to me through prophesy, and people who cared. He came to me with promises for more years to live. I have borrowed a line from Jelly Roll’s version of “If Tomorrow Never Comes”; he sings, “If tomorrow never comes, Lord I know I find me home.”
Final brushstroke: Oh, Sweet Jesus, you won’t turn anyone away. Rock bottom is a hard place to fall. He’ll be there to pick you up.
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