#1164 – “Just Like Jesus” by Iveth Luna

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.
 
I co-wrote the song with songwriters Cindy Morgan and AJ Pruis. It beautifully captures the essence of God’s unfailing love. Every lyric and melody feels like the journal entry of my heart for all He has done for me. 
 
Shooting the music video for the song was such a surreal experience. When I first walked onto the set, I was utterly in awe. The dreamy visuals take viewers through an emotional journey of relying on God from darkness to light. The creative vision behind my song came to life as the colors changed with the song’s story. I hope listeners can watch this and feel like they can grasp the hope and the heart of “Just like Jesus.”
 
Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?
 
Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV): “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.”

Matthew 17:20-21 (NIV): He replied, “Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Romans 8:28 (VOICE): “We are confident that God is able to orchestrate everything to work toward something good and beautiful when we love Him and accept His invitation to live according to His plan.”

Romans 11:36 (NKJV): “For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.”

Hebrews 11:1 (NLT): “Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see.”

Philippians 4:6 (VOICE): “Don’t be anxious about things; instead, pray. Pray about everything. He longs to hear your requests, so talk to God about your needs and be thankful for what has come.”

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV): “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 1:6 (NKJV): “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV): But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Hebrews 13:8: “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
 
What is the takeaway message?
 
This song reminds us that God is true to His word and surpasses our expectations. It came from a moment of surrender, knowing that God can do more than I can imagine. He always makes way for us; this song is my declaration of that truth.
 
When writing the music, I thought, ‘What’s the biggest thing I could imagine God doing for me right now?” This song has ministered to my heart, and I’m so excited for others to hear it. Express your belief, have faith in God’s unchanging nature, and join me in singing this joyful anthem, knowing that God works miracles—even in ways we don’t know.
 
Lyrics
 
Who says
I’m with you there in the dark 
It won’t always be this hard 
I’m holding your broken heart
And who says
I’m not scared of your fears 
All your doubts bring ‘em here 
I’m wiping all of your tears
 
He does 
He does
 
It’s just like Jesus
To give me strength when I need it
Hope when I cannot see it
When I’m falling to pieces
It’s just like Jesus
To put me back on my feet when
I was out past the deep end
You wanted me when nobody wanted me 
Now I just wanna be
Just like Jesus
 
Who is
A friend to all of the friendless 
Fighting for the defenseless 
Merciful in the messes
And who can
Make a sinner feel worthy
Lift the head of the hurting
Walk with those who are searching
 
It’s just like Jesus
To give me strength when I need it
Hope when I cannot see it
When I’m falling to pieces
It’s just like Jesus
To put me back on my feet when
I was out past the deep end
You wanted me when nobody wanted me 
Now I just wanna be
Just like Jesus
 
His hands
His feet
His arms reaching
He wanted me when nobody wanted me 
Now I just wanna be
Now I just wanna be
His hands
His feet
His arms reaching
He wanted me when nobody wanted me
Now I just wanna be
Just like Jesus
Oh, just like Jesus
 
It’s just like Jesus
To give me strength when I need it
Hope when I cannot see it
When I’m falling to pieces
It’s just like Jesus
To put me back on my feet when
I was out past the deep end
You wanted me when nobody wanted me 
Now I just wanna be
Just like Jesus
(His hands, His feet, His arms reaching)
Just like Jesus
(He wanted me when nobody wanted me, now I just wanna be, now I just wanna be)
 
His hands
His feet
His arms reaching
He wanted me when nobody wanted me 
Now I just wanna be 
Just like Jesus
 
Closing Thoughts
 
Trust in Jesus, and don’t forget that you are never alone. This truth provides comfort during uncertain times and reminds us not to worry about things beyond our control.
 
God has a plan for you, even when it seems like everything is uncertain. It’s easy to fall into despair, but trust in His presence and know He’s always with you. Depending on Him can be a struggle, but it’s doable. Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”
 
Trust in God’s Word. Have confidence in God’s ability to work all things together for your good. Spend time with Him and allow Him to redeem and restore you. Your story is still ongoing. God is still writing your redemption story. He wants you to have a deeper understanding and stronger relationship with Him, filled with faith and security. This song encourages you to strive for that in your walk with God. 
 
Jesus is the Good News, the miracle that can hold us together when we have struggles. As followers of Jesus, we know we can trust God’s Word. We are all a work in progress. And we’re not at the end of our story. God’s still writing our stories of redemption. God wants us to know that He’s faithful to complete what He’s started in all of us who’ve put our hope and trust in Jesus for our salvation.
 
Strive to know God, and He will come to you. You have the privilege of knowing Him intimately. He lives in you and has made you His dwelling place. He’s constantly making all things new in your life. And He wants to take your thoughts captive and renew your mind.
 
In Get Out of Your Head by author Jennie Allen, she highlights the importance of recognizing toxic thinking and taking action to change it. She says that toxic thinking creates an alternate reality where distorted reasoning seems to make sense. What you think about, your brain becomes. If you want to break the patterns of toxic thinking, you must be mindful of your thoughts and take action to change them.
 
God loves you deeply. When you feel overwhelmed by emotions, turn to Him, and He’ll give you the strength you need. When you follow Jesus, you can have confidence that God is always with you and will never leave your side. God is more significant than any calamity that we experience in this world. Things don’t go as we want or even how we pray for God to work in our lives. 
 
Being a Christian means that we walk by faith, not by sight. Faith requires people to rely on the unseen. We all walk by faith every day. The beauty of walking by faith and not sight is that we can learn to trust God more fully. 
 
Without faith, it’s impossible to please God. We can try to know everything, but we can’t. But God tells us in the Bible that we can do anything in Christ through faith. So, sing this song to God with all your heart and know, “It’s just like Jesus/To give me strength when I need it/Hope when I cannot see it/When I’m falling to pieces/It’s just like Jesus.” Amen to that.