The first time I heard these words…

I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt been-through-hell hallelujah
And I’ll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail story-to-tell hallelujah, oh, oh
‘Cause God, You’ve been patient 
God, You’ve been gracious, faithful, whatever I’m feeling or facing
So, I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt it-is-well hallelujah

I knew I was hearing a song that spoke to my life, perhaps more deeply than any other. Brandon Lake’s Hard Fought Hallelujah has touched countless hearts, but in that first listening I felt heard – in a way I’m not sure I ever had before.

If you know me, you know I’ve been there!
During some of the darkest days of our marriage – when I knew that, as soon as we got home from church, he would head out to meet the other woman – choosing to worship God with the congregation gave me strength to breathe, to keep standing, to keep showing up.

Once, when one of my sons was heading in a completely wrong direction and I was alone in the house with the pain, I cranked up the worship and poured my heart out to God.
That was my, “storm-tossed, torn-sail story to tell hallelujah.”
And it got me through.

Here’s the thing.
Thanksgiving, praise, and worship aren’t just for the good times. Anyone can offer up a “thank God” when something goes their way. Unbelievers do it all the time. But when you offer up a hallelujah while walking through hell barefoot in the dark? That’s different.

That kind of worship releases something powerful.
Choosing to worship God not because of what we see, but because of Who He is transforms us.
It alters how we see Him.
It alters how we see the storm.
It deepens our relationship with The One who is always there.

Does the storm leave? Maybe. Maybe not. But we rise above it regardless.

I encourage you:
Bring it!
No matter where you are, no matter what you’re walking through today – bring God your hallelujah!
Let your worship be more than a song. Make it your lifestyle.

If you’ve not heard the song for yourself, you can watch Brandon Lake sing it with Jelly Roll on YouTube.

Celebrating Jesus!
Tammy C

PS: Here is an eye-opening video of Brandon Lake and Jelly Roll being interviewed by KLove.