Tuesday, 17 June 2025
I'm weary, and my all is not enough,
And the road ahead stretches long and rough.
I'm kneeling, empty, nothing left to give,
Here, in surrender, I begin to live.
[Chorus 1]
At the end of myself, is where I find my strength.
When it's no longer I, but He who lives in me,
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
He lifts me up and He carries me.
[Verse 2]
In front of me, tasks beyond my might,
And every step, a battle and a fight.
I'm lost in the struggle, but in this place,
I rest in His mercy, and in His grace.
[Chorus 2]
At the end of myself, is where I find my strength.
In the breaking of my pride, His mercy reigns.
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
He holds me close, through every storm and pain.
[Verse 3]
All I have to offer is tears and loss,
So I fall before the redeeming cross.
His strength is perfect when I know my weakness.
In knowing my emptiness, I find His fullness.
[Chorus 3]
At the end of myself, is where I find my strength.
In the stillness of surrender, He will sustain.
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
Through it all, His grace and power remain.
[Bridge]
When my race is run,
His has just begun.
When I am undone,
I rest in the Son.
[Chorus 4]
At the end of myself, is where I find my strength.
In the ashes of my plans, His hope remains.
I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.
So here I rest, in the power of His name.
[Coda]
He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:
He leadeth me beside the still waters.
He restoreth my soul:
He leadeth me in the paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.
Analysis of At the End of Myself Lyrics
The song At the End of Myself is a poignant exploration of human frailty, spiritual surrender and divine empowerment, deeply rooted in Christian theology and scriptural references. Written in a confessional and meditative tone, the lyrics articulate a journey from exhaustion and inadequacy to reliance on God's strength. This analysis examines the song's thematic progression, its use of scriptural allusions, and the deliberate choice of Bible translations to convey its message.
Thematic Analysis
The song's central theme is the paradox of finding strength in weakness through surrender to God. This is introduced in Verse 1, where the speaker describes weariness and insufficiency (“my all is not enough”) but discovers life through surrender. The recurring motif of being “at the end of myself” in the choruses underscores a state of personal depletion as the prerequisite for divine intervention. This aligns with Christian teachings on humility and dependence on God, particularly echoed in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God's grace is sufficient in weakness, a concept implicitly woven throughout the song.
Each verse builds on this theme by depicting increasing levels of struggle and surrender. Verse 2 portrays overwhelming tasks and battles, yet finds solace in God's mercy and grace. Verse 3 deepens the emotional intensity, with the speaker offering only “tears and loss” at the “redeeming cross,” a clear reference to Christ's atonement. The bridge shifts to an eschatological perspective, contrasting the speaker's finite “race” with God's eternal work, culminating in rest in “the Son” (a Christological title). The coda, quoting Psalm 23, concludes with a serene affirmation of God's guidance and restoration, providing a resolution to the song's earlier turmoil.
Scriptural References and Translation Choices
The song is saturated with scriptural allusions, drawing from multiple Bible translations to enhance its lyrical and theological impact. The most prominent reference is the repeated line in the choruses, “I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,” directly quoting Philippians 4:13 from the New International Version (NIV). This verse aligns with the song's theme of divine empowerment in human weakness. The choice of the NIV rendition offers contemporary accessibility and rhythmic suitability for lyrical repetition.
The coda explicitly quotes Psalm 23:1–3 from the King James Version (KJV), evident in its archaic language: “He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: He leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my soul.” The KJV's poetic cadence and solemnity lend a timeless, almost liturgical quality to the song's conclusion, evoking a sense of divine comfort and finality. This contrasts with the NIV's modern phrasing in the choruses, suggesting a deliberate juxtaposition of contemporary and traditional expressions of faith to bridge personal experience with historical scripture.
Other scriptural influences are less explicit but discernible. For instance, Verse 3's line, “His strength is perfect when I know my weakness,” echoes 2 Corinthians 12:9: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This verse informs the song's nuanced articulation of weakness as a conduit for divine strength. Similarly, the imagery of the “redeeming cross” in Verse 3 alludes to the crucifixion narratives (e.g., 1 Corinthians 1:18), symbolising salvation and surrender. The bridge's reference to resting “in the Son” draws from Christological passages like John 15:4–5, where abiding in Christ is essential for spiritual vitality.
Structural and Poetic Devices
The song's structure reinforces its theological message. The four verses and choruses progress from despair to hope, with each chorus slightly varying to reflect the speaker's growing trust in God. For example, Chorus 1 focuses on Christ living in the speaker, while Chorus 4 speaks of resting “in the power of His name,” indicating a shift in thought from indwelling to worshipful reliance. The bridge serves as a theological pivot, introducing Christ's eternal perspective, while the coda's scriptural quotation provides a meditative finish.
Poetically, the lyrics employ vivid imagery and contrasts. The “long and rough” road (Verse 1) and “storm and pain” (Chorus 2) evoke life's hardships, while “green pastures” and “still waters” (Coda) offer divine respite. The repetition of “at the end of myself” creates a rhythmic anchor, mirroring the cyclical nature of spiritual surrender. The bridge's concise parallelism (“When my race is run, / “His has just begun”) distils the song's eschatological hope.
Theological and Emotional Resonance
The choice of translations—NIV for the choruses and KJV for the coda, with evidence of English Standard Version (ESV) influences elsewhere—reflects a careful curation of scriptural voices. The NIV's dynamic phrasing in Philippians 4:13 appeals to modern listeners, grounding the song's personal narrative. The KJV's Psalm 23 invokes a collective, historical faith, connecting the individual's journey to a broader Christian tradition. The ESV's influence, with its emphasis on precision, supports the song's doctrinal clarity, particularly in its Pauline allusions to weakness and grace. Together, these translations create a multifaceted scriptural foundation that resonates both emotionally and theologically.
The song's emotional power lies in its raw vulnerability. By depicting a speaker who is “weary,” “empty,” and offering only “tears,” it invites listeners to relate their struggles. The progression from exhaustion to rest mirrors the Christian narrative of redemption, making the song a compelling devotional tool. Its scriptural anchoring ensures theological depth, while its lyrical craftsmanship ensures universal relatability.
Conclusion
At the End of Myself is a lyrically and theologically sophisticated song that navigates the tension between human limitation and divine strength. Its scriptural references, drawn from the NIV, KJV and ESV, are strategically employed to reinforce its message of surrender and empowerment. The NIV's Philippians 4:13 drives the song's central affirmation, the KJV's Psalm 23 provides a timeless conclusion, and the ESV's influence lends doctrinal precision. Through its vivid imagery, poetic structure, and emotional authenticity, the song offers a profound reflection on faith, making it a resonant piece for both personal devotion and communal worship.
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