Waiting for Superman (feat. Chris Brown and Keri Hilson's "Superhuman")

In light of the Chris Brown/Soulja boy fiasco that's been in the media lately (*sigh*), I decided to revisit the music of the '07/'08 Chris Brown that every young girl loved, to reminisce on happier times. In my nostalgia, I was reminded of how much I loved his Exclusive album, specifically The Forever Edition, which includes the track "Superhuman," featuring Keri Hilson. In the duet, Chris and Keri sing about how they used to be depressed about life until they met their significant other, who made them feel superhuman. I never thought about how much this song relates to the supernatural nature of God—and how much it relates to parts of my own testimony—until I analyzed the lyrics.

Chris Brown, Exclusive: The Forever Edition / Amazon

Verse 1 [Chris]:

Weak

I have been crying and crying for weeks

How'd I survive when I can barely speak

Barely eat

On my knees

Testimony time: I graduated from high school in 2012 in the top 10% of my class. I was a straight A student, and when I got accepted to Wake Forest University (which ranks 27th on the list of the nation's best colleges), I thought I was invincible. I had heard how rigorous Wake's course load was, but I thought, I got this. I did it in high school, I can do it again. No sweat. When I got there, though, I found that I had bitten off way more than I could chew. I had plans to major in biology, so I doubled up on sciences both semesters freshman year, and the A's I was used to getting in high school were suddenly C's and D's. I found myself measuring my self-worth according to my GPA, and between extracurriculars (I was in multiple committees in Student Union all 4 years) and countless hours of studying (and a few chai tea lattes a week), I barely got any rest. I was exhausted and disappointed in myself, and I wasn't giving God enough of my time. My prayer life was almost nonexistent, and when I did pray, I felt like He couldn't hear me. I was burned out. I started to wonder if maybe I wasn't cut out for college.

Verse 2 [Keri]:

But that's the moment you came to me

I don't know what your love has done to me

Think I'm invincible I see

Through the me

I used to be

In the spring of my sophomore year when it was time to declare my major, I was still struggling with the sciences, but in the midst of all that, I rediscovered a love for something I really enjoyed: writing. No matter how hard I studied for tests in chemistry and biology, I still wasn't seeing the results I wanted. Writing, however, was different. It came to me almost as easy as breathing. The sciences felt like work. Words weren't work for me. They just flowed. I was torn: my heart said writer, but doubt found its way in. Everyone around me said English wasn't a financially stable major, so I majored in biology...and I was absolutely miserable. So I did the only thing I knew how to do: I prayed. Lord, show me where I should go. You know my heart's desire. Where You lead, I'll follow. Then I heard a voice say, I was waiting for you to realize you can't do this on your own. You need Me more than you think.

Chorus:

[Chris]:

You changed my whole life

[Keri]:

Don't know what you're doing to me with your love

[Chris]:

I'm feeling all Super human

You did that to me

A superhuman heart beats in me

[Both]:

Nothing can stop me here with you

Super human

Super human

I was reminded of two scriptures, 1 Peter 5:6-7, "Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you," and Matthew 11:28, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (NIV). That was the problem: I was trying to be superhuman. I got so wrapped up in what I thought I wanted, so busy trying to prove to myself (and others) what I could accomplish on my own, that I forgot where my help comes from. I forgot to lean on God. When you're full of yourself, God can't fill you—and you can't feel Him. He had to humble me in order for me to really appreciate Him.

When I started praying more, reading my Bible more, and giving God the worship and credit He deserved, He showed me what could happen when He added His super to my natural. His love showed me that I was more than just numbers on paper, and I excelled. In fact, I made Dean's list 4 times throughout the rest of my undergraduate career—and gave Him praise every single time. My Christian walk completely changed, and I graduated from Wake Forest in May 2016 with a B.A. in English.

Bridge:

[Chris]:

It's not a bird

Not a plane

[Both]:

It's my heart and it's gonna go away

[Both]:

My only weakness is you

Only reason is you

Every minute with you I feel like I can do

Anything

College taught me a lot of things, but the most important thing it taught me was that I'm not great. I've just been granted great grace. My intelligence, my writing ability, my accomplishments, everything that I am is because of God. Without Him I am nothing, in Him I have everything, and through Him I can do anything. His strength is made perfect in my kryptonite.

Watch the "Superhuman" video below: