It’s Okay, I’m Alright

by Jim Rower

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” –James 1:2-4

I am not a “super fan” of America’s Got Talent (AGT), but I do watch it sometimes. On a few occasions, I’ve been very moved by a contestant’s story and/or talent. I recently watched a re-airing of singer/song writer Jane Marczweski’s 2021 AGT audition and was completely blown away. She got a golden buzzer, putting her straight through to the quarterfinals of the competition. Later, Simon Cowell told her he thought she would have won the entire competition except for one thing.

Jane had an effervescent stage presence that seemed to exude joy. Before her performance, Howie Mandell asked her what she did for a living. Her answer was she hadn’t been working for a few years because she had been fighting cancer but, “It’s okay, I’m okay.”

After she revealed this, Simon Cowell asked her how she was now. Jane said she had cancer in her lungs, spine, and liver. Howie said, “So you’re not okay,” and Jane answered, “Not in every way, no.” Then she added, “It’s important that everyone knows that I’m so much more than the bad things that happened to me.”

Throughout all of this, she kept her smile, and she kept her joy. It was clear it was genuine joy. Then she sang with a spectacular, steady voice a song she wrote about the last year of her life entitled, “It’s Okay.”

After she finished, there was a deafening silence in the entire room. The type of silence that comes when a person has just seen or heard something they can’t fully comprehend—they need a moment to process it. Then the entire audience and all of the judges erupted in a huge standing ovation. I think most of them were also in tears, as was I.

As the judges were commenting on how great her voice was, how impactful her performance was, and her casually revealing what she was going through, Jane said, “You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

AGT did not tell the full story of Jane’s trials. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2017. She was treated for that and declared cancer-free. Four months later, scans revealed numerous tumors in her lungs, spine, liver, and ribs. She went into treatment for that. About a year later, Jane was diagnosed with terminal cancer from which, doctors told her, there was only a 2% survival rate. She was given three to six months to live.

Jane beat that prediction. In July 2020, in what seemed like a miracle to her, the cancer was in remission. Six months later, however, scans showed the cancer had returned. On top of all of that, Jane’s husband had divorced her after the terminal cancer diagnosis.

Through all of this, Jane, a Christian, had the joy and hope of Jesus Christ in her heart. A joy that burst forth onto that stage and inspired, I’m sure, thousands and thousands of people. She knew Christ was in control, come what may. She was determined not to let her disease steal that joy.

Jane passed away on February 19, 2022 after a four-year battle with cancer. Oh, and the reason she didn’t win the entire AGT competition in 2021 is she had to withdraw from further performances due to her illness.

At this point in a devotion, I should be tying this story back to some Biblical lesson or Gospel truth. I think this story reveals the truth and speaks for itself without my elaboration, so I will just reiterate the things that really blew me away from Jane’s audition:

“It’s important that everyone knows that [you are] so much more than the bad things that happened to [you].”

“You can’t wait until life isn’t hard anymore before you decide to be happy.”

Jane Marczweski’s stage name was “Nightbirde.” If you want to be inspired, and maybe cry a little, search for “Nightbirde AGT Audition” and watch the YouTube video. Make sure to watch the one that is about 7:12 minutes long to get the full audition.

Father God, my mind is so often filled with the distractions of this earthly life— bemoaning the physical or emotional pains, or chasing after the temporary pleasures. Yet I know You have so much more for me, so much better for me, if I were to focus on You instead—to listen for and follow Your guidance for my life. Help me to let go of the pains and pleasures of this world and live each day, each moment, with the deep joy that I know I only have when I’m living for You. I ask that You bring those who are dragged down by grief and struggles today to the realization that they are so much more than the bad things that happen to them—they are a child of God, and Your joy awaits them if they will let go as well. Amen.