Josh's poignant songwriting is coupled with musical excellence as each song urges me to better see God. This album is sure to connect with all listeners who like catchy songs filled with truth and yearning for God. Josh invites you into his life in such an authentic and relatable way that you'll feel like his lifelong friend after you hear this album. He writes about themes that cause me to hang onto every word he sings, and this song is no exception. This album once again exhibits Wilson's gift of relating the challenges of life and the need for a Savior like no one else.
Mental Help shows the complete breadth of Josh's songwriting, from the celebratory pop-driven track "I Surrender All" to the beautiful and moving anthem "Jesus and Therapy." I had the chance to speak with Josh about "It Gets Better."
Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
I was in Montana in the dead of winter. It was late and cold, and I was traveling alone. I had just finished playing a concert. I got to my hotel, and as I walked in into my room, I closed the door, set my bags down, and crumpled on the floor. I started weeping uncontrollably. Months and years of anxiety and depression had built up in my body and mind and led me to this moment when I simply broke down.
I called my wife and told her I couldn't finish the tour. She's so kind. She didn't offer me platitudes or cliches. She didn't try to fix me. Instead, she flew to where I was and helped me get through the rest of the tour. She reminded me I'm not alone. She let me borrow her faith until mine caught up. When we got home, I took some much-needed time off, I saw my doctor and my counselor, and I spent time with close friends and family. Eventually, slowly, things did get better. All along the way, Jesus was reminding me that the pain is not permanent. That's what this song is about. It's going to get better, in this life or the next. It all works out in the end. If it hasn't worked out, then it's not the end. Hold on, it gets better.
This song was inspired by my struggle with anxiety, depression, and alcohol addiction and is meant to be a source of encouragement and support for those struggling with mental health. I've struggled for many years with anxiety and panic attacks, and more recently with depression. Until 2017, I self-medicated my anxiety with alcohol and eventually became addicted. By the grace of God, and with the help of family, friends, and therapy, I'm almost seven years sober now.
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
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 your minds in Christ Jesus."
Matthew 6:31-34 (VOICE): "So do not consume yourselves with questions: What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear? Outsiders make themselves frantic over such questions; they don't realize that your heavenly Father knows exactly what you need. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and then all these things will be given to you too. So do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today."
Matthew 11:28-30 (MSG): "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with Me and work with Me--watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with Me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
What is the takeaway message?
Jesus loves you and so do I. There's new mercy every morning. I feel that each day. We decided to put that concept into a song. Honestly, I'm just preaching to myself in this song. Jesus reminds us to seek first the kingdom of God. So, whether you deal with anxiety, doubt, addiction, depression, or any other struggle, remember, it gets better.
I deal with a lot of anxiety, and I have ever since I was a kid. I've even had seasons of suffering from debilitating panic attacks. My anxiety often comes in waves, and some weeks are worse than others, so I never know when it will hit the hardest. What I do know is that God has been faithful to carry me through every anxious moment, every panic attack, and every difficult scenario I wasn't sure how to handle. Jesus never promised us life would be easy. In fact, He said in this world we will have trouble. But right after that, He reminds us that He has overcome the world. So even though I still deal with anxiety, I put my trust in the One who has overcome the world, knowing that He is with me in every dark moment, through every high and every low. It gets better.
Lyrics
The pain is for a reason
That's what they say but is it true
They tell me it's season
But they don't know what I've been through
Until I stop the bleeding
Their words are salt inside my wounds
I haven't stopped believing
It's just really hard to see it
Wish I could talk to my future self
What would I say cause I need some help
Don't be afraid
Just get through today
The Maker of Heaven and Earth
Is making a way
Take a deep breath
Take the next step
Oh, this is not how it ends
This isn't forever
Hold on it gets better
It's hard to see the sunrise
In the middle of the midnight hour
You just gotta wait sometimes
Till the world spins back around
I promise you it's shining
Oh, you can't see it now
Keep watching the horizon
Open up your eyes and
It's only a matter of time
Till Heaven splits open the sky
It gets better, gets better, gets better
The dark will burn up in the light
The very last tear will be cried
It gets better, gets better, gets better
Don't be afraid
Cause God's not afraid
The maker of Heaven and Earth is making a way
Take a deep breath, He's not finished yet
Oh, this is not how it ends
This isn't forever
Hold on, it gets better
Closing Thoughts
We should not be ashamed to sing of our dependence on God and to show Him reverence. What are those things in your life that are beyond you that you can turn over to God? Allow Him and His supernatural ability to take you to places that you can't handle on your own. I love how Josh took a moment of personal anxiety and panic and turned it into a prayer of surrender to God. We raise our hands to celebrate in surrender. We can lift up our hands in confidence to God and know that His mercy is unfailing. His love is never-ending. He is our refuge and our strength. God's ultimate will is not to bring affliction upon people but to restore us so that we may experience His unfailing love.
This is a wonderful song of encouragement and prayer to ask God to break your pride, live redemption's story, and move closer to who we're meant to be in Christ. Allow God and His Holy Spirit to change you to be more like Jesus and move closer to His glory.
The enemy uses fear, anxiety, and worry to prevent us from sharing our faith, from fixing our eyes on Jesus, and from the greater things that God has in store for us as His followers. This song truly touches me in many ways. I know that many of us struggle with the idea that our past and present mistakes are unforgivable, yet the Bible tells us that isn't true. Read that great translation in The Message of Matthew 11:28-30. Jesus tells us: "Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest." What an amazing comfort to know that when we struggle with our pain, pride, and unloving natures, we can all lay it at the feet of Jesus. This is a great song to sing to our Lord and Savior as a personal prayer of thanks and praise.
Are we spending too much time thinking about our circumstances and what we can do to improve them or are we connecting with God's heart for us, which is "Do not worry about tomorrow. Let tomorrow worry about itself. Living faithfully is a large enough task for today" (Matthew 6:34, The Voice). I've read that God tells us 365 times in His Word "Do not fear" or "Do not worry," enough for a daily reminder to not spend time caught up in ourselves, but allowing ourselves to be satisfied with a fresh filling of God and His Holy Spirit every day.
We all have lies that we believe about ourselves. Also, we have an Enemy who doesn't like us. He does have a voice and he does speak to us, but the voice of God's Agape Love speaks louder. This song encourages us to see ourselves the way God sees us. What a great message of redemption: grace is unmerited favor, and it is a free gift. It is a testament to Wilson the songwriter that he can make that concept as accessible as a moving "3 minute song." Be free from those doubts about yourself and sing out: "Don't be afraid/Cause God's not afraid/The maker of Heaven and Earth is making a way/Take a deep breath, He's not finished yet/Oh, this is not how it ends/This isn't forever/Hold on, it gets better." 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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