Love & the Outcome comprises husband-and-wife duo, Jodi King and Chris Rademaker. They made an immediate mark on the Christian contemporary music scene with their debut album, featuring hit songs "He is With Us" and "King of My Heart." That album chronicled their journey of leaving their homeland of Canada and risking it all to pursue their musical dreams. Many songs reflect the need to rely entirely on God's sovereignty to guide their "outcome."
The duo returned with their sophomore offering, These Are the Days, preceded by the hit song "The God I Know." Their third full-length studio album, Only Every Always, showcased the band’s gifts as songwriters and Jodi’s shimmering, emotion-laden voice. Particularly striking are the songs “Moving On,” “I’ll Find You,” and “You Got This,” which have encouraging messages to increase our faith.
The album’s songs address life’s pressures and express that true happiness and identity come from our relationship with God. The band has returned with their latest single, “Human.” I had the opportunity to interview Jodi about the new song.
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
Life is hard, and God is good: both are true simultaneously. That’s the basis of the message of this song. I remember playing a show the week after our house flooded, and the first thing that came out of my mouth when I stepped onstage was, "You don't become a Christian and stop being human."
I believe we've always been transparent with our fans about our experiences, but now we're relinquishing our role as “professional Christians”—the ones with all the answers who tie a bow on all the hard things.
We are human, transforming daily through our suffering to become more like Christ. We can often be optimistic about a fault. Positivity is different from joy. Joy often comes after pain. In other seasons, we must express how we’re feeling—we achieved that by writing this song.
God can hold your hand. Scripture mentions presenting our tears as an offering. We have witnessed a more profound joy arising from within. I wish deep joy didn’t follow suffering, but that’s how it works, sometimes.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
Psalm 121(NKJV): "I will lift my eyes to the hills--From whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. He will not move your foot; He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper and your shade at your right hand. The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul. The LORD shall preserve your going out and coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore."
1 John 4:4(NKJV): "You are of God, little children, and have overcome them because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."
John 15:5(NKJV): "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing."
Romans 8:37(NLT): "No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us."
Hebrews 11:1(NLT): "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see."
Philippians 4:6-7(NIV): "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus."
We hope “Human” helps people know their story is valid and there's no way to outrun God's love for them. It's okay to fall apart when you're suffering. You're not an evil Christian. You're human. You are welcome here. You don’t have to put on a happy face; hopefully, this song lets your tears fall. You have permission. If God can handle us, He can take us.
There is no guarantee that it will be easy just because God called you to do something. We interpret things that way, but that’s not how God calls us to live. He wants us to live by faith. When we get clarity, it can seem like smooth sailing. Remember, it may be part of God’s plan when things get tough. Rather than worrying about getting life wrong, know that there’s no right or wrong with God. He does fantastic things, no matter what.
“Human” is not about all our significant decisions. It’s about what God has done during our troubles and how God has carried us. He helped us rebuild our home. Look how our faith has grown. God has never stopped working. My pain doesn’t disqualify me; it qualifies me.
We wanted a song for all those feeling down and out, whether from loneliness, anxiety, depression, loss, or all the above. This song is an anthem you can sing to yourself, so you don't have to worry even on your most challenging days when you can't put your feelings into words. God will find you in your most difficult places.
Lyrics
God is good, life is hard It's not one or the other I've been on both sides of black and white And found a few new colors
When you're far from okay Just know I've been there too There's no perfect words to say But here's what I'd say to you
You're not broken Just because you're wounded You're still worth it When your Rome has turned to ruins
Sometimes, you climb the mountain you thought He was gonna move God may not take your pain, but you know He will take you through You win, you lose, you fall, you get some bruises That just means you're human
You are not the only one Who feels alone in your questions Trying to sort out things that you and me Won't know this side of heaven
There's no equation that can make this all add up Guess what I'm saying is you can't outrun His love
You're not broken Just because you're wounded You're still worth it When your Rome has turned to ruins
Sometimes, you climb the mountain you thought He was gonna move God may not take your pain, but you know He will take you through You win, you lose, you fall, you get some bruises That just means you're human
Your scars, your broken heart All the days you fall apart It's part of who you are It makes you human
Your scars, your broken heart All the days you fall apart It makes you human
You're not broken Just because you're wounded You're still worth it When your Rome has turned to ruins
Sometimes, you climb the mountain you thought He was gonna move God may not take your pain, but you know He will take you through You win, you lose, you fall, you get some bruises You win, you lose, you fall, you get some bruises That just means you're human
Closing Thoughts
Jodi and Chris have consistently impressed me with their mature faith and sincere desire to serve Jesus. This song is based on several biblical truths, including 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”
Whatever struggle or depression you face, know that God is always with you.
Like David's prayers and songs captured in the Psalms, the music changes your thoughts when you allow the words to sink in. Step out in faith and trust in God even when you want to give up or can't see where you're going.
We don't possess the power to overcome our challenges within ourselves. God is the power source that brings true power. In our weakness, God's strength is perfect. Remember that if God is for us, who can be against us?
In our weakness, God's strength is perfect. Romans 8:31 says that if God is for us, who can be against us? Let these words soak in and give you confidence in His love.
The Holy Spirit gives us new life. And we no longer have to live with our guilt, fears, or worries. This is a great message and song for us to celebrate our freedom based on our faith in Christ Jesus.
Have faith, and don't be afraid. Know that with Jesus, you’ll never be alone. God will show you what He has planned for you. He's the author of your—and my—life and knows what's better for you than you do.
As Christians, we're called to believe in our freedom on the cross of Jesus. We're free from our addictions, insecurities, and perfectionism. Jesus came to die for us to live in Him genuinely.
“Human” is about submitting all your worries, anxieties, and stress to God. So, let Him be your guide. Faith requires you to rely on the unseen. So, walk by faith, not by sight.
The beauty of walking by faith and not sight is that we can learn to trust God. God tells us in the Bible that we can do anything in Christ with faith. The message behind this song is the story of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I loved the chorus and catchy theme of "Human" when I first heard it. The depth of the struggles that many of us must overcome, feeling that nobody cares or knows what we are going through, is something that we can all relate to. For me, one consistent prayer is for hope. I love how this song has that emotional edge and points me to Christ for peace and hope.
Know that Jesus loves you and has something better planned for you if you trust Him as your savior.
The message of "Human" will challenge you to think about your doubts. It serves as a reminder that Jesus calls on all of us to rely on Him and the power of His resurrection. It also gives you some added reassurance: He has overcome death and fear.
God is real, He is near, and He is just a breath away. He is the author of our lives and knows what's best for us much better than we do. What a powerful expression of what it means to accept that God never leaves or forsakes us as one of His followers. He is all we need. Join in with the band and sing along in faith, “God is good, life is hard/It's not one or the other.” Amen to that.
NRT lead contributor Kevin Davis is a long-time Christian music fan and an avid collector. He credits the message of Christian music for leading him to Christ. He lives in Pennsylvania with his wife and three daughters.
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