I would like to share with you these lyrics from the song I Can’t Breath by Bea Miller: 

Somebody get me a hammer

Wanna break all the clocks and the mirrors 

And go back to a time that was different 

A time when I didn’t feel like there was something missing 

Now my body and mind are distant 

Don’t know how to escape from this prison 

How can I free my mind? 

Cause I can’t breathe

I can’t breathe

I can’t breath

Ooh, ooh, ooh
I can’t breath 

How can I live in the moment 

When my thoughts never feel like my own 

And don’t know how to admit that I’m broke 

How can I be alright? 

Cause I can’t breathe

I can’t breathe 

I can’t breath 

Ooh, ooh, ooh 

I can’t breath 

So, you may be asking why I brought up this song. I know this song has a different meaning to different people, but I wanted to share what it means to me. 

Exceptions. This is such a big deal these days. Especially low expectations. Everyone expects you to look a curtain way, act curtain way, hang out with curtain people. They expect you, especially teenagers, to live in reality. They expect you to have big or little responsibilities in the household, in the community, anywhere really. People expect you to be a curtain person if you act, dress or seem a curtain way. They judge you before they know you. 

This song, to me, shows that in a way. The low expectations of the world, of the people around you, way you down so much that you can’t breath. So much that you feel trapped. That your thoughts turn into what ifs. What if I didn’t do this right? What if I didn’t wear the right thing? What if he or she didn’t like me? What if… Or you just feel alone and depressed. Like something is missing. Like something isn’t right about you. Or you don’t know who you are. Or you’re not given the elbow room you need to figure that out. Well, that’s what they made you think. The low exceptions of others makes you think you are not enough. Let me tell you right now. YOU ARE ENOUGH. 

I know what its like to feel like I can’t breath. I know that exceptions can way you down. I know what it feels to feel like something is missing. Like I am not enough. I feel that way a lot, especially as a pastor’s kid. I sometimes feel like I have to be a perfect person because I am a pastor’s kid. But that’s not true. I am enough. I am perfect in my own way.  

We all make mistakes. We’re only human. That’s what we do. We can most certainly try and try and try to be the most perfect person in the world. But there was only one perfect person ever to exist, and that was Christ Jesus, the Son of God. We have to realize that we can’t be perfect. Everyone fails at being who they are expected to be. We can succeed at being who we are. God made us to be who we are. And maybe you don’t know who that is yet?You don’t know your style yet? Or what you want your life to be like? I myself am still trying to figure that out. But, as we go about this rollercoaster called life, we must be true to ourselves. 

Here’s what I’ve learned: If you keep letting those low exceptions get in the way of your dreams, it’s going to be difficult to follow them. You can rise up against these low expectations. People will try to break you down, hold you back and suffocate you till you can’t breath. People won’t listen to you. Some people won’t believe in you. But you can rise up! You can be who you are meant to be. Because you are enough. 

Though it will seem hard at times, that’s just life. It can be a hard climb, but you are strong. Rise above low expectations even when you can’t breath. Cause you are brave. You are strong. You are enough.