Naomi Raine - Not Ready Lyrics
Lyrics
Let’s just be honest Jesus, I’m a mess
Can’t seem to fill this void of emptiness
My bills are paid but I’m still stressed
I need you, I need you
Trying to medicate and dull the pain
Can’t hush these voices in my brain
Singing songs to silent sounds of shame
I need you, I need you
Pre Chorus
But if I tell the truth I’m so afraid of truth
And I know it and you know it
Chorus
I know I need to pray
But I don’t know how to say
I’m not ready, I’m not ready to change
I wanna trust in You
But if I told the truth
I’m not ready, I’m not ready to change
Video
Naomi Raine - Not Ready (Official Music Video)
Meaning & Inspiration
Naomi Raine's "Not Ready," released in 2022 on her album *Journey*, is a powerfully raw and relatable anthem that dives deep into the struggle of spiritual transformation. The song doesn't shy away from acknowledging the messy, imperfect state of our humanity, even when we desire to draw closer to God. Raine articulates a universal experience: the internal conflict between knowing what we *should* do and feeling utterly incapable of doing it, or even being ready to embrace the changes that faith demands. This vulnerability is the core of the song's strength, mirroring the honesty we are called to have with God, as Psalm 51:17 reminds us, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise." Raine captures this sentiment of being a "mess" and unable to fill an inner void, a feeling that resonates with the prophet Jeremiah's lament, "Has a nation changed its gods? Yet they are no gods! But my people have exchanged their Glory for useless idols" (Jeremiah 2:11). The lyrical exploration of trying to "medicate and dull the pain" and wrestling with internal voices of shame speaks to the often-unseen battles we face, the silent struggles that can leave us feeling isolated. This is where the plea "I need you, I need you" becomes so profound, a desperate cry for divine intervention that echoes the psalmist's declaration, "I am poor and needy, but the Lord thinks of me. You are my help and my deliverer; my God, do not tarry!" (Psalm 40:17). The pre-chorus and chorus lay bare the heart of the matter: the paralyzing fear of truth and the admission of not being ready for the profound changes that surrendering fully to God entails. This isn't a song about having it all together; it's a song about the honest admission of our limitations and the courageous step of acknowledging our need for a Savior. It beautifully illustrates the paradox of faith, where our weakness becomes the very ground upon which God's strength can be most powerfully displayed, as Paul famously wrote, "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" (2 Corinthians 12:9). "Not Ready" encourages listeners to embrace their imperfections, recognizing that the journey of faith begins not with perfect readiness, but with an honest and humble confession of need, paving the way for God's transformative work within us.