When was the last time you felt like giving up?
If your knee-jerk answer was “earlier today” or “yesterday,” you have more company than you realize. Discouragement is everywhere today and so many people I know are fighting the temptation to give up.
But, as pervasive and tempting as it is to give up on a relationship or a dream, we often wonder if we should give up on ourselves. We pray “God, are you going to give up on me too?”
Today, I hit a milestone I’ve been on for a decade. I gave up so many times along the way, only to later come back and start moving again. While I don’t enjoy admitting it, I felt like God had given up on me and was giving other people what I had been dreaming of and praying for fervently.
These intense emotions and difficult questions are at the core of Maverick City Music’s newest collaboration, featuring Ashely Hess. The song, “YET,” is raw and beautiful wrestling with God, and a picture of what faith looks like when no one else is looking.
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Near the opening of the song, we hear words that feel all too familiar.
“God, don't give up on me yet, I know I'm not Your best bet, But I'm trying…
And God, don't leave me here alone, I know I need to grow, But I’m trying”
These lyrics remind me of one of the most popular passages in the Bible. Romans 8:39 states, “No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Hess originally wrote the majority of the lyrics to this song. When the song was released, she posted a very raw caption on her Instagram page.
“Vulnerability has never come easy to me and is something I’ve struggled with for YEARS, but I’m learning that the things that you’re most afraid to share or express are often the things that lead to the most growth and the deepest connection. YET is a song I never thought I’d release because it felt too personal and raw. I was so afraid for people to have a front row seat to my wrestle with the Lord but so much healing has come from sharing my story, hearing so many of your stories and watching God show up and transform brokenness into beauty. So, just remember that the deepest insecurity in your life often reveals something about the assignment and purpose God has given you.”
Like many other listeners, I’ve found myself listening to “YET” on repeat, crying as the lyrics and sentiment in Hess’ caption described my own experience perfectly. The song hit me like I haven’t experienced in a long time.
As I meditated on the lyrics, I found myself drawn to several passages which served as foundations for the song. The bridge talks about God’s unending grace. In Romans 5:20-21, Paul wrote, “But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead.”
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In the opening section of the song, Hess and Moore sing about their fear of being abandoned by God. As I reflected on times when I’ve been paralyzed by the same fear, I was reminded of what God spoke in Isaiah 41:10. “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”
Near the end of the song, the bridge emerges as a prayer spoken at the end of a great struggle. Echoing truths and words which form beloved songs like Cory Asbury’s “Reckless Love” and UNITED’s “Oceans,” Hess and Moore sing words which I know will lodge in hearts and minds.
"His grace will never run out
There’s enough to go round and round
His love’s an ocean where your shame is drowned
If you know what He knows, then you know
He won’t give up on you"
This song is a beautiful and powerful cry of the heart. But, I believe it’s more than a song. “YET” calls us to continue to press into God and press forward into our callings. Like the Apostle Paul who asked God to remove a thorn from his flesh in 2 Corinthians 12:7-10, God is reminding us that “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”
If you feel like giving up today, listen to “YET.” If you are afraid of God giving up on you, open your Bible to the passages in this article and listen to “YET” again. If you are considering abandoning what God is calling to you, I want to leave you with Hess’ words of encouragement.
“Don’t let fear hold you back! Send the text. Post the video. Write the book. Make the call. Share the song. Schedule the appointment. Do the thing you’ve been too afraid to do. Then watch God move and completely blow your mind.”
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps you laugh, challenges you to think, and invites you to grow. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and watches lots of football with his wife and three kids. You can learn more about Scott’s new free resource, The Gratitude Muscle Challenge, at scottsavagelive.com.
