Years ago, in the 1980’s, way before the internet and when the dinosaurs still roamed the earth, it wasn’t YouTube or TikTok videos that went viral; it was TV commercials.  Most commercials of that era were eminently forgettable and looking back now, they were super cheesy, too.  But every once in a while, one would take off and the punchline would be continually repeated until it became part of the lexicon of the day. Wendy’s “Where’s the beef?” and Life cereal’s Little Mikey, “He likes it!” are great examples.

No one knew what it took for a commercial to go viral, but when they did, that memorable phrase got stuck in your head. It’s strange all the commercials and jingles that I can still remember, even after almost 40 years.

There’s one 1980’s commercial I’ve thought about frequently through the years. It’s for Prego spaghetti sauce. There are many versions of this TV spot, but they’re all variations on a theme.  A disgruntled Italian father (or grandmother, husband, friend, etc.) rails on a family member for using Prego instead of making homemade sauce.  And as they list the essential ingredients of a good sauce, the home cook protests by repeatedly saying after each ingredient, “It’s in there!”. Eventually the monologuing critic pauses to taste and savor the sauce and then enthusiastically agrees, “It’s in there!”

And so for years through the 80’s when someone would ask if a job was complete or if we had remembered to include a certain thing in a presentation or project, we would say in our best Italian accent, “It’s in there!”

Ridiculous and silly, I know. But that phrase returns to me almost every time I teach or think about the amazing provisions God has freely given to us as Christians.  Weird, I know.  But track with me… As believers we have not been left without resources.  When God saved us, he also empowered us.  We HAVE what it takes to walk worthy of the gospel and to walk in step the the Spirt.  Part of the blessing of being a child of God are all the benefits that come from being “in Christ” and a part of God’s family.  As believers, we have the very presence of Jesus. (John 15:4). Jesus is actually in us. (Colossians 1:27). The Holy Spirit lives in us, too (1 Corinthians 3:16) to help and empower.  We are filled with the “fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:19) and we have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5).  Because we are alive in Him, we desire to follow Jesus and have the power to do so. God fills us with his joy (Psalm 16:11) and peace (Romans 13:11).  The love of God has been poured into our hearts (Romans 5:5) and we are given His righteousness (2 Corinthians 5:21). Can it get any better than that? He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak (Isaiah 40:29).  In fact, the Bible says, that “His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life…” (1 Peter 1:3).  There are abundant resources, one might say “abundant life” (John 10:10) or rivers of living water (John 7:38) nourishing our soul to refresh, strengthen and empower.  All of this is within every single person who believes in Jesus. Christ wants to live his very life through us!

So, the next time you feel:

Discouraged… “It’s in there!”

Inadequate… “It’s in there!”

Powerless… “It’s in there!”

Defeated… “It’s in there!”

Hopeless… “It’s in there!”

Empty… “It’s in there!”

Our Enemy’s full-time job is to keep us from recognizing the full range of resources our wonderful Father has given us to live a victorious life.  So, he works hard to sow seeds of ignorance and doubt.  He never wants us to come to know or believe that we have been granted power to overcome.

Whatever the challenge or struggle, both now and in the future… because God is with us, we can be assured that whatever is required: “It’s in there!”

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Join the fun! What commercials from your childhood have stuck with you?