My oldest is ten years old, officially a “tween,” as she’s informed me. I suppose this means a lot of things, but one of the most fun is that as her mom, I have a legitimate reason to listen to pop music. Unironically. Because that’s what she likes, so that’s what we listen to, along with showtunes and worship songs, country music and what has somehow become “oldies.” I’m listening to the music with her and because of her, and that’s a parenting perk I’m happy to receive.
One of my daughter’s favorite artists for a while now is Shawn Mendes, and she — fine, I — was excited to hear a new song from him recently. As I caught some of the lyrics coming out of our car’s speakers, I was relieved we were pulling into our garage. While I might be able to convince myself I’m a cool mom who listens to cool music, all street cred flies out the window when I begin openly weeping at lines written by 19-year-old pop stars.
A few days later, I heard the entire song alone in the car, and sure enough, I teared up. Amidst cries for help and descriptions of anxiety or depression or some other unnamed but relateable struggle, the singer repeats these words:
Sometimes I feel like giving up
But I just can’t
It isn’t in my blood
The tears that lined my face weren’t the result of sadness for the pop star on my radio. I cried because I feel that truth in my own life, in my own family. Every single one of us — on every side, on every branch — struggles with something or some things. And yet we don’t give up. We fight. We keep going. Not always immediately or well or happily, but giving up isn’t in my blood.
I thought about that as I nodded my head to the song, tapping my steering wheel for emphasis. Yes! I’m strong! That’s who I am! I thought proudly.
And then I thought about my daughter, who broke her leg three months ago. I thought about how incredibly hard her experience has been, how painful it’s been to encourage her and motivate her and watch her give up over and over again. I thought about how many times I’ve snapped in the past three months, yelling that she is not allowed to say the word can’t anymore. And then I thought about how this song is the exact thing I’ve been trying to tell her — that she can’t can’t, that she can’t give up, that she can’t be anything other than strong and fierce and brave.
After all, it’s not in my blood, and it’s not in hers.
But then new tears sprang up for a completely different reason. I thought about how many times I have, in fact, given up and quit, how many times I have been anything other than strong or fierce or brave. And I remembered that even though I couldn’t stand on my own or take another step or handle one more blow, it was okay.
The truth is giving up actually is in my blood. I’m just as weak and fallible and human as the next person. And just like all the pep talks and motivational posters and fight songs and inspiring books can’t force my daughter to face challenges with strength and courage, nothing can change my own tendency to run away, to give up, to quit. I can’t will either one of us into new personalities, new abilities, new DNA.
Long after I listened to that song, the chorus played in my head on a loop, weaving in and out of my thoughts. The more those lyrics wove through my brain, the more the word blood rang in my ears and my heart. And then the tune changed, and I remembered another song about blood:
Would you be free from the burden of sin?
There’s power in the blood, power in the blood;
Would you o’er evil a victory win?
There’s wonderful power in the blood.
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the blood of the Lamb.
There is power, power, wonder-working power
In the precious blood of the Lamb.
In what might be the strangest mash-up of our day, I suddenly had an old Baptist hymn mixing with this new pop song until I had to Google the lyrics for both to separate them again. “There’s Power in the Blood” has several verses, but the short version was summed up long ago in Philippians. We can do all things not because it’s in our blood but because it’s in His.
Giving up is in my blood just like it’s in my daughter’s and just like it’s in everyone else’s. We share that DNA as humans, and no nature or nurture can change it. But Jesus and His blood becomes ours and overwrites our genetic code, our predispositions, our weakness, and giving up is most certainly not in His blood.
I don’t know what you’re facing right now, but no matter what is in your path today or what’s coming tomorrow, you can feel secure in the strength Jesus offers you. You can rest in the knowledge that giving up and giving in are not in His blood, and He’s given us that power along with our salvation.
You can do this, whatever this is. You can stand up, you can fight back, you can hold on. Don’t give up, friend. It isn’t in His blood.
Leave a Comment
Gillian says
What a wonderful post, Mary! Thank you. Being the mother of a 10-year old boy, I don’t have the delight of a legitimate reason to listen to pop songs, but you’re post has shown me how the new and old can mingle, drawing out the truths that we all need to rely on. Everything comes back to the power of God in the end.
Mary Carver says
Yes, I love the way God can use anything – old songs, new songs, and everything in between – to speak Truth to us!
Michele Morin says
Oh! Thank you for this beautiful truth, Mary. It’s true of me, as well. So often I cave in, give up, lay down my arms in the battle against sin and toward righteousness. And yet, Jesus fights on my behalf, and I love this reminder that He will not give up, because He DID not give up, even when His assignment was to face the cross.
Thank you for fighting words today!
Diana F says
Michele, love the way you put it as “fighting words”!
Mary Carver says
Great reminder, Michele – no assignment I receive is as unbearable as the one Jesus got and withstood. And THAT is kind of strength He offers us!
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Mary,
Absolutely beautiful post! There is a worldly myth that somehow we have the power if we just dig deep enough. We can dig to our toes, but like you pointed out so wonderfully, the power isn’t in us….it’s in Him. If we are in Christ then we have resurrection power through Him working in us. His blood not only covers our sin, but courses through our veins. His grace is sufficient. He is able. When we run out of our own steam, we need to run into His arms. He’s ready and waiting and more than enough to get us through whatever giant it is we’re facing. Awesome!
Blessings,
Bev xx
Mary Carver says
Bev, you’re so right – our culture really promotes the idea of self-strength, when in fact we have nothing of the sort and need so much Spirit-strength instead!
Carol Foose says
God bless your day, Mary. Thank you for this wonderful reminder to keep on keeping on. May it touch the hearts of all who are discouraged today.
Valerie says
Thank you so much for that beautiful analogy. It will forever be a reminder for me to keep pressing, because the great advocate “Jesus” , stayed up (on the cross), rose up (from the grave),so we could get up from those things that try to get the best of us.
Diana F says
Love knowing Jesus is our “advocate” too! Thanks for being this reminder into the conversation.
Beth Williams says
Mary,
This world is full of trials & tribulations. Often times we feel like throwing in the towel & giving up. The devil would like nothing more than for us to be depressed & quit. God says we are more than conquerors IN ALL THINGS through Him who loved us. It is only through the shed blood of Christ that we can be victors. Not through might or our own power. When trials come & they will we need to run to the strong arms of God & “fight like a warrior”-on our knees. Pray hard & let God help us fight the battle.
Blessings 🙂
Mary Carver says
“More than conquerors” – I love that phrase and need to be reminded of it often! Thanks, Beth!
Robbie Peterson says
Amen, such a great reminder and encouragement that no matter the situation or obstacle that we can do all things through His blood.
Kathleen K. says
Thank you for this message. Today I am facing some challenges physically and emotionally that has nearly frozen me. I am on a time crutch to get some things done that are overwhelming me. Your last four sentences spoke directly to me and has given me the courage to face and do what I need to get done. Beautiful reminder of the power of His blood. What a blessing for me this morning. Again thank you. Please pray for me as I deal with what is before me.
Elizabeth says
I’m praying for you, Kathleen!
Mary Carver says
Praying God gives you the exact strength you need to overcome your obstacles, Kathleen!
Elizabeth says
It’s so funny how God has a way of sending you exactly what you need to hear. I am in an emotionally and verbally abusive relationship and am struggling to get out. I texted my sister to say that I was worried I wasn’t going to be strong enough. When I feel those fears, this will help me to remember that it isn’t in my blood but in the blood that Jesus sacrificed for me. Thank You!
cathy says
Elizabeth it’s never an easy decision, but as a sister in Christ who has been in two emotionally and verbally abusive marriages, God will give you the strength and courage to leave. It may seem like you’re giving up, and in a sense you are, but you are choosing life. God can restore the land that the locust have destroyed. My prayers are with you.
Elizabeth says
Thank you, Cathy! I’m just so worried about the impact on our daughter.
Mary Carver says
Elizabeth, I pray that God gives you wisdom and strength, and peace of mind as you move forward. And I’m thanking Him now, because I know that is exactly what He will do.
Carolyn says
Beautiful!
Penny says
Mary,
I fully appreciate your beautifully written words. Another thought, our blood is our life line whereas His blood is what gives it quality.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Mary Carver says
Great point, Penny! Thank you for reading and sharing your insight here!
Myra Reyes says
This was very much needed this morning. Thank God He has taught me it’s OK to be weak and vulnerable and that giving up is okay. That just means I can depend more on Him, His strength! No more pressure to appear stronger than what I really am! I can let God be strong in me!
Diana F says
So real, true, and freeing! I, too, have given up many times with some really grievous ways. But this truth that it is “not is HIS blood” to give up is what has freed me, is freeing me and will free me, and not only me but all of us who place our faith, trust and hope in this gracious and victorious Lord and Savior of ours! I’m so grateful for the way the Lord took the worldly thinking of positive thinking, self-affirmation, and self-help to this beautiful hymn of truth that we are weak and in great need of Jesus’ power in the blood. Amen, sister!
Cindy says
Thank you for the reminder. Sometimes life is so very hard and overwhelming, and I feel lost, alone and friendless. I needed to be reminded that “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.”
Mary Carver says
I’m so glad this was encouraging to you, Cindy! I need the reminder often myself.
Rebecca Jones says
Wonder working power in the precious blood of the Lamb. Amen, to that today.
Jeannie says
It’s late at night, and I was just hit in the gut with a realization during a phone call a few minutes ago. Tears have fallen, but I’m fighting the world’s facts with my JESUS’ TRUTH. I click into this and read of His Power, reminding me that one day, HE will Right every Wrong, wipe away all our tears, and put everything under His feet! ….. Maranatha, Lord Jesus! <3 ….and may all believe in Your Truth before it's too late….Okay, now is prayer time with my husband ~ ~ ~
Mary Carver says
Jeannie, I hope you were able to rest peacefully last night in the knowledge that God is still on the throne, and He is a good God who loves you and will give you every thing you need. Love to you today!
Dalene says
Mary, you’re simply the best. Spot on as always. Much love, Dalene
Mary Carver says
Thank you for your kind words, Dalene! Have a great week!
Jen says
Beautiful message, Mary! and Amen! <3
Maylee says
Thank you for this needed message. I feel as if I am walking on this long dark path. Grief does that to a person I guess and I never truly knew what grief was until the death of my best friend. It’s only been 5 months and yet I feel her absences every single day. I am 43 years of age and to think that most likely I will still be around for the next 30 years without her is unbearable. I want to give up at times. I want to just be with her but I know my family will miss me. I know God have a plan for me even when I clearly don’t see it or want to see it. I find myself asking God all the questions one might ask when the death of a loved one is so unexpected. I trust that God will send me a friend to comfort me through this. Thank you for sharing.
amandaconquers says
This is right where I am living–between the daily wishing “I can’t do this” was a card I could play to get me out of every hard circumstance I am facing and that gentle knowing “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.” So good. So so good, friend. Thank you. <3 (PS I am totally the kind of cool that cries in pop songs)
Sue Donaldson says
Same. It’s a contemporary battle cry of “you are enough” – I get it, I get the need for it – but it’s not true. We aren’t. Not w/o the Blood. Great post. (and yes my songs are now oldies.)
Maree Dee says
Mary,
Yes, with Jesus we do not have to give up. We can’t Afterall he never gave up on us. I loved your post. Thank you for linking up with Grace & Truth Christian Link-up. Your post caught my eye. We chose the same picture. Maree