“I call her the crazy lady in the attic.”
That's the phrase Erin shared with me when she talked about what her inner critic sounds like. From a young age, Erin struggled with her self-worth and identity, and her lifelong battle has been to turn down that inner critic and turn up the voice of who God says she is.
I’ve never forgotten what Erin shared with me because I’ve heard a voice like that too. “You’re not enough.” “You don’t have what it takes.” “If people really knew your inner battles, they’d reject you.” Do you have a voice that whispers lies like these?
You and I aren’t alone in this. Not only does my friend Erin struggle with those kinds of thoughts, but so does Roosevelt Stewart. Stewart grew up in an inner-city neighborhood within Fort Myers, Florida, amid significant challenges. He was introduced to church as a kid and learned to play 9 instruments. But his biggest and most important lesson was embracing what God said about Him.
Speaking about his song, “Redeemed,” Stewart talks about how the song was birthed out of his own story. “‘Redeemed’ is my testimony in song. I spent a long time thinking I wasn’t worth it, but God said I was. I’ve realized that His grace isn’t something I could ever earn; it’s a debt He already paid. This isn’t a flex; it’s total favor. I’m only boasting in my weakness, because looking back at where I’ve been, I know that only He could do it.”
Stewart’s testimony leads to an energetic, pop-centric song that was recorded as part of his live album, “Memory.” The song’s power comes through as Stewart sings his testimony. But the impact of “Redeemed” is really rooted in three passages of Scripture that powerfully undergird the lyrics.
1 John 3:1 tells us about our identity. “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are!” Your inner critic may tell you one thing, but the Father says, “You are my child.” What God says about you is the truest thing about you. Roosevelt Stewart sings that “I thought I wasn’t worth it,” but his story changed when he believed that God said he was.
Once we realize our identity isn't based on proving our worth or earning our place in this world or in God’s eyes, we can change how we relate to our strengths and weaknesses. We often feel like our weaknesses disqualify us from God’s purposes.
However, 2 Corinthians 12:8-10 reminds us that God sees weakness differently than we do. We see grounds for disqualification; God sees a place where we will need to be dependent. Our weakness is the place where God’s strength shows up. Paul writes, “So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.”
Stewart sings that he is “only boasting in my weakness.” In his website biography, Stewart shares that he has never been interested in the spotlight, despite his 6’8” height drawing lots of attention. He points away from himself and towards what God has done for him.
The song doesn’t just want to redirect our minds to certain thoughts about God. “Redeemed” is about living a certain way in response to what God has done. Stewart sings, “Who the Son sets free is truly free indeed.” His lyrics echo the words Jesus spoke to his disciples in John 8. “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” Jesus didn't just come to set us up for an eternal destination, but for a present experience. We don’t have to wait to experience freedom one day. “Redeemed” reminds us that this freedom is available today!
After following Jesus for many years and pastoring churches for twenty years, I cannot promise you that listening to a song like this will drown out your inner voice of insecurity. My friend with the “crazy lady in the attic” has been following Jesus for a long time. But we’ve talked about how we choose which voices to focus on and where to turn the volume up or down.
If you have a “crazy lady in the attic,” she may always be up there making noise, but you don’t have to let her run the house. You can turn on “Redeemed” and meditate on the Gospel. You can remind yourself that “what God says about me is the truest thing about me.” As Stewart said, when it comes to your testimony and the way God has sustained you, “only He can do it.” I pray that you trust what God says about you today!
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker who loves tacos, matcha, and sneakers. With more than twenty years of ministry experience, he teaches with a blend of Biblical truth, emotional awareness, and the compassion shaped by his own struggles.
Scott’s writing has impacted over ten million people through trusted platforms such as the YouVersion Bible App, Air1 Radio, and Our Daily Bread. He’s the author of Faith Behind the Song, a 40-day devotional book published in partnership with K-Love Books. Whether speaking on a stage or writing on a page, he offers a steady, empathetic voice that reassures people they are seen, loved, and not beyond God's healing reach. You can sign up to receive his weekly newsletter at ScottSavageLive.com today!
