April 26 – Vol. 30 No. 16
You Are Not a Problem
The bumper sticker read “I identify as a problem.”
My first thought was, “I’m sorry.” Then, I thought, “Me too. Sometimes.” When I have messed up at work, in a relationship with a family member, or with a friend. And especially when I fail to follow Jesus as closely as I want to. I sometimes identify as a problem, but then I remember that God does not identify me as a problem.
You are not a problem either. If you were in the car with the bumper sticker, you do not need to identify yourself as a problem. And here’s why: “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die.8 But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:6-8)
These words from Matthew West share the same message.
If grace was a kingdom, I’d stopped at the gate
Thinkin’ I don’t deserve to pass through
After all the mistakes that I’ve made
Oh, but I heard a whisper as Heaven bent down
Said, “Child, don’t you know that the first will be last
And the last get a crown”
Now I’m just a beggar in the presence of a King
I wish I could bring so much more
But if it’s true, You use broken things
Then here I am Lord, I’m all Yours
The pages of history, they tell me it’s true
That it’s never the perfect
It’s always the ones with the scars that You use
Oh, it’s the rebels and the prodigals
It’s the humble and the weak
All the misfit heroes You chose
Tell me there’s hope for sinners like me
Grace is a kingdom with gates open wide
There’s a seat at the table just waiting for you
So, come on inside. Broken Things[i]
Whoever you are, do not identify as a problem.
I love you.
Tom
A Norvell Note © Copyright 2026 Tom Norvell All Rights Reserved
[i] Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Matthew West / Jason Houser / Aj Pruis
Broken Things lyrics © Highly Combustible Music, House Of Story Music Publishing, Two Story House Music, One77 Songs, Combustion Five, Third Story House Music, Get Ur Seek On, Anthem Highly Combustible Music