"Jesus, I can't do this. I need you now!"
I prayed those words on several occasions, and perhaps you have too. When we find ourselves in a dark place, we feel a sense of desperation and a deep awareness of our need for a new source of hope.
I recall sitting in my car about fifteen years ago, feeling as though my world was crashing down around me. The job I believed would be my dream opportunity had broken my heart. The people I trusted had lied to me. The future I had planned seemed impossible amidst a recession.
In that moment, I experienced the truth of Kristian Stanfill's song "Come to Jesus" long before it was written. The opening words capture something every disappointed person understands - that moment when you realize the world's promises are empty.
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The Lies That Keep Us Stuck
When we hit rock bottom, something interesting happens. Our desperation can open us up to Jesus in ways we've never experienced before. But here's the problem: just when we're most ready to reach out to God, Satan whispers his favorite lies to keep us stuck in our pain.
I've heard these lies in my head, and I've listened hundreds of people I've counseled share them with me.
“I need to clean up first. I’ve done too much wrong. I’ve waited too long.”
But Scripture demolishes each of these!
What Scripture Says
The beautiful thing about God's word is how directly it addresses these lies we tell ourselves.
Romans 8:1-2 demolishes the first lie: "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."
Isaiah 1:18 speaks to the second lie: "Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow.”
God isn't intimidated by the depth of our mess. He specializes in making the worst situations into testimonies of His grace.
And the third lie? Jesus told a story in Luke 15 that completely destroys that one.
The Prodigal's Return
In Luke 15, Jesus tells the story of a young man who squandered his father's money through reckless living. When he finally came to his senses, he was feeding pigs and so hungry he wanted to eat their food.
But here's what gets me every time I read this story: the father wasn't waiting with condemnation or conditions. He was waiting with a celebration.
The son had prepared a speech about how he wasn't worthy to be called a son anymore, but the father interrupted him with a robe, a ring, and a party.
This is the heart of Kristan Stanfill's song, “Come to Jesus.” Jesus paid the price for every prodigal who finds themselves far from home. No matter how far you've wandered, no matter how long you've been gone, no matter what you've done, the Father is still watching the road, waiting for your return.
The Abundant Life We're Looking For
If you’ve been to rock bottom, then you know a surprising truth - it's not the worst place you can be! The worst place you can be is stuck halfway down, still believing you can climb out on your strength.
Rock bottom becomes a foundation God builds on when you finally stop fighting and start surrendering.
Stanfill captures this perfectly in a recent interview. “This song is about the abundant life we find only in Jesus. No one and nothing else can save us or satisfy our souls.”
I spent years searching for that sense of satisfaction in career success and the approval of others, but neither brought me the peace that surrendering to Jesus did.
Your Next Step
Perhaps you're reading this because you've bought into what the world was selling, only to discover it was counterfeit. Maybe you're tired of being let down by things and people who promised more than they could deliver.
If that's you, I want you to know something: you don't have to clean yourself up first. You haven't done anything too big for God to forgive. And it's not too late.
Jesus is still calling prodigals home. The Father is still watching the road. The celebration is still waiting.
The question isn't whether you're good enough to come to Jesus. The question is whether you're tired enough of trying to do life on your own.
If you are, then it's time to pray those words I prayed in that parking lot: "Jesus, I can't do this. I need you now."
Come to Jesus today!
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with one of the best last names in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. Scott’s newest resource, The Identity Statement Blueprint, helps people embrace what God says about them in practical ways.
