part 2 of “how to fight your battles”
As I was thinking about some of the songs that have touched my heart over the last year or so and trying to lay them out for this series, I realized that Valentine’s Day was this past Sunday. I wanted to have a song that talked about love. So as I got to running different songs through that head that could fit for what I believe God wanted me to share about love. The song that I landed on was is a newer one that was just released in October 2020. The song is called “Who Am I” and it’s by NEEDTOBREATHE.
When I first heard this song, I was immediately taken away by the lyrics. The lyrics of this song are a great reminder of God’s love for us. Let’s take a look at some of the lyrics:
“While I'm on this road you take my hand
Somehow you really love who I really am
I push you away, still you won't let go
You grow your roses on my barren soul
Who am I, who am I, who am I
To be loved by you
Who am I, who am I, who am I
To be loved by you
Who am I, who am I, who am I
To be loved by you
Who am I, who am I, who am I” [1]
When I first heard this song, I was drawn in by the question that is asked in the chorus of the song. The question is “who am I to be loved by you?” I go to battle with that question sometimes and perhaps you do as well. It is a question that, if we are honest with ourselves, we should be asking. Let me explain.
The reason I go to battle with the question of how can I be loved by God is not that I am doubting the amazing and unconditional love of God. I am not doubting that God loves me. I often question “why does God love me? Just like Bear, one of the writers of the song is asking. The bridge of the song takes this thought deeper:
“I'm a train wreck, I'm a mess, you see the best and the worst in me
Still I can't imagine that I've learned your trust
I don't understand where your love comes from” [1]
The words above are exactly why I battle the “who am I” question. Just like it says in the song, I am a mess and a train wreck. How can God love a mess and train wreck? But what this song reminds me to do is think about who God specializes in loving in the Bible. God loves difficult people all throughout the Bible.
One of the first people I think of is Moses. God found Moses tending sheep for his father-in-law after he had fled Egypt because he murdered an Egyptian. God lit a bush on fire to get his attention. God then told Moses to go back to Egypt and free the Israelites from the Pharaoh. [2] God still loved Moses despite what he had done and had a great plan to use Moses.
Another person I think of is David and what a roller coaster ride he is. But I am reminded of David’s story in 2 Samuel 11. In the story, we see David staying behind instead of going to war as he should have. This caused him to lust after Bathsheba after he noticed her bathing from the roof of his palace. He sent for her and he slept with her. This caused Bathsheba to become pregnant. So, David called for her husband, Uriah, to get them together and pass off the pregnancy. But when Uriah would not sleep in the house due to him being active in the war, David had Uriah killed in battle. This allowed David to take Bathsheba as his wife. God punished David for his actions. [3] But God never stopped loving David even though David probably asked this very question we are looking at today.
I remember these two stories when I go to battle with the question “who am I”? They seem kind of odd stories to remember, and there are more that I could have chosen, but the two people in the stories are more what I focus on. They were both murderers. They both had killed someone. Yet, God still loved them and used them.
I am reminded that no matter what I’ve done, God still loves me. The Bible says in Romans 5:
“But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.” - Romans 5:8 NLT
Just like God loved David and Moses despite what they did. God loved us despite what He knew we were going to do. God knew we were going to be a mess. God knew that we were going to be a train wreck. God knew that we would make bad decisions in life. But, just like David and Moses, He loves us anyway.
This song helps me remember that truth. God loves me anyway. God loves you anyway. God loves us with an everlasting love! (Jeremiah 31:3)
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[1] Song: Who Am I
Artist: NEEDTOBREATHE
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Nathaniel Rinehart / William Rinehart
Who Am I lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
This post references the lyrics of a song. The meaning of the lyrics and the song in this post is my own interpretation.
[2] Exodus 2-3
[3] 2 Samuel 11-12
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