The Beauty in the Broken Road
Psalms 103:2-4 — Let all that I am praise the LORD; may I never forget the good things He does for me. He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
Have you ever driven through a construction zone and thought, This is such a mess. Who planned this?
Lanes suddenly shift. Orange barrels are everywhere. Traffic slows to a crawl. Dust is flying, and nothing looks finished. Then you come back six months later, and there’s a new road, fresh pavement, and a bridge where there wasn’t one before.
Suddenly, the mess starts making sense.
Peter Burton’s song “Where Would I Be” comes from a deeply personal place, and it reminds me of that kind of roadwork. He has talked openly about his struggles with mental health and how God walked with him through every step of recovery.
He calls the song his testimony—a reminder that Jesus changes everything, and even in the mess, God is still at work.
Maybe that’s why the song hits home for so many people.
It’s your testimony and mine too.
We all have chapters we’d rather skip. Seasons where you felt buried under shame. Choices you wish you could erase. Anxiety, fear, bitterness you didn’t know how to shake.
But then Jesus steps into the mess. He starts breaking ground, healing hearts, doing a deep work in us. And one day you look back and barely recognize who you used to be.
He’s that good.
He’s the God who forgives all your sins, heals your diseases, redeems your life from destruction, and crowns you with love and tender mercies. Don’t forget that.
Because those moments that felt like falling apart were often the very places God was quietly rebuilding you.
And somewhere along the way, you may find yourself asking what Peter Burton asks in the song:
“Where would I be? Where would I be if it wasn’t for the love of God?”
…and honestly, thank God we’ll never know.
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- What “construction zone” season of your life can you only now see God was working through?
- Where do you need to remember (not just believe, but remember) that God has forgiven, healed, and redeemed you?
- Is there a part of your story you tend to skip over or feel ashamed of—how might God be inviting you to see it differently?
- How has your testimony changed as you’ve looked back and recognized God’s presence in the middle of the mess?
- Who in your life might need to hear your story of how God met you in a difficult season?
Lyrics:
Standing where I stand now
I know that He’s the reason
I almost can’t believe it
Every wrong turn He turned around
and I can just imagine
If it didn’t happen
How it happened
Oh
Seeing how good He’s been to me
Oh
I can’t help but think
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Pulling me outta that grave
Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways
I’d probably crash and burn
Stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Thank God, thank God, thank God
I’ll never know
I used to feel the weight
Of the chains that I was holding
Til my savior came and broke em
I used to walk with shame
I was living at a loss
Til he settled up my cost
At the cross
Oh
Giving His life so I could live
Oh
Didn’t leave me where I’ve been
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Pulling me outta that grave
Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways
I’d probably crash and burn
Stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Thank God, thank God, thank God
I’ll never know
Thank God
I’ll never know
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Pulling me outta that grave
Where would I be if I didn’t have mercy
Pulling me away from my ways
I’d probably crash and burn
Stay stuck down in that dirt
Like a prodigal running from home
Where would I be if I didn’t have Jesus
Thank God, thank God, thank God
I’ll never know
Thank God
I’ll never know
Thank God
I’ll never know
Written by Peter Burton, Matt Armstrong, AJ Pruis
