Because Life Ain’t Always Pretty

MercyMe’s debut single, “Even If,” from their album Lifer has enjoyed sweet success since its release in February 2017.

This hit song dominated the Billboard and radio charts with a 19-week streak at No. 1, received a 2018 GRAMMY nomination for Best Contemporary Christian Music Performance/Song, earned a nomination for Top Christian Song by the 2018 American Billboard Music Awards, and was nominated for a 2017 GMA Dove Award for Song of the Year.

Most recently,”Even If” garnered the honor of Song of the Year at this year’s K-Love Fan Awards. (MercyMe won every single category they were nominated for by the 2018 K-Love Fan Awards: Film Impact, Group of the Year, Song of the Year, and Artist of the Year.)

If these stats don’t convince you that MercyMe’s 2017 Lifer album’s “got it going on,” then you just might be a tough nut to crack.

Today’s post on the message in “Even If” is the latest in my post series on the messages in every song on Lifer.

Ironically, the sweet success of “Even If” is attributed to the fact that life on planet earth isn’t always sweet.

So far, every song I’ve reviewed has been an upbeat, put-on-your-boogie-shoes song that you just can’t help but smile, sing, dance, and shout for joy to.

They all reflect the reason Christians around the world should be celebrating: the finished work of Christ.

The work that has already been done on our behalf.

“Even If” also celebrates the finished work of Christ, but in a different way.

It is one of only two ballads on the entire album and speaks volumes of encouragement to Christians who seem to be going through one battle after another.

With no sign of reprieve.

Weekend 22, a weekly two-hour nationally syndicated Christian music countdown show, described “Even If” as Lifer’s “crown jewel.”

Let’s watch the heart behind this inspiring song:

Just in case you are more of a visual person (like me) rather than auditory, Millard summed up what he just said in a post on MercyMe’s Facebook fan page:

What Christ has already done on the cross is probably the only thing we need to get through those circumstances. It’s a foundation that was built long before those difficulties came to be. 

(Watch Bart give the full testimony in this YouTube video.)

I love that Millard keeps going back to the only real reason we Christians have to hope in better days to come: Jesus Christ.

Specifically, Christ in us—our glorious Hope for all eternity (Col. 1:27)!

Now let’s watch the state-of-the-art official lyric video for “Even If”:

Even though I’m not currently going through tough circumstances, my world was being turned upside down in the spring of 2016.

And interestingly enough, God used the MercyMe song, “Move,” to let me know that brighter days were coming.

I wrote about it in my post, “What a Difference a Year Makes! How a Kiss of Hope Helped Me Get Through Gut-Wrenching Circumstances.”

Had “Even If” been released during that time, I’m convinced that I would have played it, along with “Move,” again and again to encourage and remind me of the incredible hope that I have as a believer in Christ.

Even if those circumstances never changed … or got worse.

Right now, there are people close to me who are going through heartrending circumstances.

Circumstances that don’t seem to be going away.

But God continues to minister to them through the hope-filled, it-is-well-with-my-soul-regardless-of-my-circumstances message in “Even If.”

I thank God for MercyMe’s heart in ministering to hurting people through their life-giving, hope-infusing, grace-filled music!

Dear reader, has God used MercyMe’s “Even If” to minister encouragement and hope to you?

I would love to hear your story and praise Him with you.

(Here is a table of contents for every post in this post series.)

1. “Why I Think MercyMe’s Newest Album, Lifer, Is Their Best Ever” – Intro
2. “Are You a Lifer in Christ?” – a review of track 1, “Lifer“
3. “Come out, Come out, Wherever You Are!” – a review of track 2, “You Found Me“
4. “Has Grace Got You?” – a review of track 3, “Grace Got You“
5. “Have You Heard the Best News Ever?” – a review of track 4, “Best News Ever“
6. “Because Life Ain’t Always Pretty” – a review of track 5, “Even If“
7. “Bye-Bye Lies!” – a review of track 6, “Hello Beautiful“
8. “Don’t Throw in the Towel” – a review of track 7, “We Win“
9. “Why Every Christian Should Be Doing the Happy Dance” – a review of track 8, “Happy Dance“
10. “Christian, Heaven Is Here & Now!” – a review of track 9, “Heaven’s Here“
11. “This Ghost Is Way Friendlier Than Casper!” – a review of track 10, “Ghost“

If you enjoyed this post, then I think you would enjoy both of my books where I share the undiluted, unpolluted love and grace of God.