Shirley Caesar, You Can Make It | Music Lifts

In the 11th edition of Music Lifts (2025), we’re uplifted by gospel music legend Shirley Caesar performing “You Can Make It.”

Welcome to Music Lifts , a column highlighting songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs exuding fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 11^th edition of Music Lifts (2025), we highlight “You Can Make It” as performed by Shirley Caesar.

“No hope it seems, still I believe / That I can make it.” Amen ! Despite feeling a lack of hope and a heaping dose of adversity, Shirley Caesar possesses faith! It seems her faith is even greater than a grain of mustard seed. She sincerely believes that the Lord is on her side on “You Can Make It”. “I am needing, the king and I,” she sings, continuing, “I will survive, and I know / I can make it.” “You Can Make It” is the third track from her 2000 album, also titled You Can Make It.  Bearing superb contemporary gospel production (keys, guitar, bass, drums), Caesar’s anointed vocals are expressive and nuanced.  She sounds authentic and sincere as she encourages during dark times.

The chorus is the section that truly warms the soul, as Caesar testifies of resilience, thanks to God.  It is her Isaiah 54:17 moment: No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper.  

“I can make it

Through the sunshine and rain

Make it

Through my sickness and pain

Make it

When they scandalize my name

Make it

Just as long as the Lord is on my side, everything I know will be alright

I can make, make it.” 

During the second verse of this six-and-a-half-minute music ministry, Caesar continues to share adverse scenarios. Despite the odds seeming to be against you, the Pastor is an optimist because of Him: “But God is going to make us the head and not the tail / All you have to do is make up in your mind to make it.” That is a great message! During the second chorus, Caesar gets a lift from the choir, allowing her to riff and bless us with the sheer power of her instrument. “You Can Make It” is a fantastic, spiritually uplifting number. It speaks to the power of faith when things seem most dire.  God can do anything!

Shirley Caesar // You Can Make It // Word Entertainment LLC // 2000

Shirley Caesar, You Can Make It: Music Lifts No. 11 (2025) [: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Word Entertainment LLC; BD Jewel, Dave H, Jean-Daniel Francoeur, Joshua Brown, Vansh Mehta from Pexels; AcatXIo, OpenClipart-Vectors from Pixabay]