«Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong» (2 Corinthians 12:10).
I was always intrigued by the stories behind the songs. What leads a singer-songwriter to write about a particular topic? I had the privilege of interviewing American singer JJ Heller. JJ’s songs—as most people call her—have impressive beauty and vulnerability. Although I like them all (l confess I was quite nervous during the interview because I’m a fan of JJ), there was one we talked about more: «God is still here.» The lyrics to this song are a type of list of everything that can go wrong in a day: What if I forget the lyrics to the chorus of the song I wrote? What if my daughter gets a fever while I’m out here on the road? What if I can never find a place where I can truly be myself? Many times we live by making a mental catalogue of all the catastrophes that could happen to you; however, in the chorus, JJ wrote, «What if the world doesn’t end when the fears come true? What if we have what we need to make it through? There is manna from heaven and mercies new. What if God is still here in this desert too?»
When I asked her about this song, JJ told me it reflected the story of her fight against anxiety. Many times, at her concerts, JJ pauses to talk about her experience because she believes that people suffering from anxiety and panic attacks think this only happens to them. In sharing her story and healing process, JJ tells them: «You are not alone.» However, her message also communicates another important truth: God can use your weaknesses to bless others. «It’s precisely because of my experience with anxiety that I feel driven to write soft songs, like lullabies, because I need them for my own soul,» JJ told me: «If it weren’t for my anxiety, these songs wouldn’t exist.»
They are the thorns nailed in the flesh, the things we think disqualify us from serving, that God uses most. Who would think that a person suffering from anxiety would become a singer and give concerts in front of thousands of people? God! It is our weaknesses that keep us dependent on divine strength. Thus, the weaker we are (in ourselves), the stronger we are (in God’s strength).
Lord, I’m eager to see what You’re going to do with my weaknesses.
#WomensDevotional
#RadioJovenAdventista
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Take From: Devotional Thoughts for Women 2022
«NO FEARS»
BY: VANEZA PISSUTO
Collaborators: Alexandra Pérez & Angelica Cuate.
