Lily Allen seems to have quite a talent for writing songs that resonate with her fans. Every time I hear ’22’ I’m amazed at how much I feel like this is about me.

When she was 22 the future looked bright
But she’s nearly 30 now and she’s out every night
I see that look in her face, she’s got that look in her eye
She’s thinking how did I get here and wondering why

It’s sad but it’s true how society says her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
‘Til the man of her dreams comes along
Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

She’s got an alright job but it’s not a career
Whenever she thinks about it, it brings her to tears
‘Cause all she wants is a boyfriend, she gets one night stands
She’s thinking how did I get here, I’m doing all that I can

It’s sad but it’s true how society says her life is already over
There’s nothing to do and there’s nothing to say
‘Til the man of her dreams comes along
Picks her up and puts her over his shoulder
It seems so unlikely in this day and age

I get that. When I turned 22 I was living with my partner of 3 and half years, and we were planning a marriage and children. Now, 6 months away from turning 30, I get what she’s singing about. It does feel like society thinks your life is over. Every day marriage seems less and less likely, which is a hard reality to come to terms with a lot of the time.

Here’s another description that was true of the 22-year-old me.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins in which you previously walked according to this worldly age, according to the ruler of the atmospheric domain, the spirit now working in the disobedient. We too all previously lived among them in our fleshly desires, carrying out the inclinations of our flesh and thoughts, and by nature we were children under wrath, as the others were also. Ephesians 2:1-3

And the almost 30-year-old me…

But God, who is abundant in mercy, because of His great love that He had for us, made us alive with the Messiah even though we were dead in trespasses. By grace you are saved! He also raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavens, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages He might display the immeasurable riches of His grace in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. Ephesians 2:4-6

Whatever ‘society’ might say, reality is that God, through Christ has brought me from death to life!

So I’ll keep reminding myself that though it seems like Lily has put my life into song, she missed the most important bit – I’ve been saved and seated in the heavens with Christ, my saviour and my God, and I’ll praise him for it for all eternity!