Imagine two people sitting in front of you in the small group you attend with your church.
The man is dressed in a freshly pressed designer suit and tie with shiny shoes, while the woman is dressed in plain, unremarkable clothes. The man speaks smoothly and confidently about his faith and many acts of service to God. The woman shares her struggles in life—the failed marriage, the health issues, and the battle with depression.
The man quotes Bible verses from memory and challenges everyone to greater discipline in their faith. The woman tells you how she almost gave hope, but God continued to sustain her from one trial to the next. At the beginning of the group's meeting, he prays, sharing what feels like a never-ending set of Christian cliches. She prays at the end of your group's meeting, and you wonder, "I didn't know that you could say that to God."
Which person's faith are you more drawn to? Like the Parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector told by Jesus in Luke 18:9-14, we feel drawn to people whose faith is raw, real, and genuine. We pause when someone seems too good to be true, and their faith seems more show than substance.
As I listened to Brandon Lake's newest song, "Hard Fought Hallelujah," I thought of the parable Jesus told in Luke 18. The Pharisee's prayer was humble and honest, brief yet bold. Lake's lyrics reflect the gritty nature of his prayer.
At the beginning of the song, he sings,
"So, I'm a keep on singing
'Til my soul catches up with my song…
There's days when a praise comes out easy -
Days when it takes all the strength I got."
Lake's honesty here reflects the experience many followers of Jesus know all too well. Some Sundays, it takes all we get to step into a worship service, much less open our mouths or lift our hands in praise. In the book of Hebrews chapter 13, the writer states, "Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name." Praise isn't always free; sometimes, it comes at a great price!
In an interview with Jesus Freak Hideout, Lake shared his heart behind the song. "I wanted to give my fans a taste of something special while on the road…This song is about the battles we face, the grit throughout the fight for faith, and the praise that comes after. I hope it resonates deeply with everyone."
The rock-country vibe of the song matches the unfiltered lyrics. Lake's heart for the song matches lyrics drawn from beloved Bible verses. He sings, "'Cause faith isn't proven like gold - 'Til it's been through the fire, eh-eh." This lyric references the opening paragraphs of 1 Peter. "These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold."
The chorus tells the truth about grace far messier than many of us expected our stories to be. For those of us like the woman in the introduction, we have scars that testify to the storms and fights God has sustained us through. Lake's lyrics indicate that he can relate, too!
"I'll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt
Been-through-hell hallelujah (ooh, ooh)
And I'll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail
Story-to-tell hallelujah, oh"
Like Lake, we've experienced God's patience, as described in 2 Peter 3:9: "The Lord isn't really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent." Sometimes, it takes a storm and torn sails to lead us to repentance and surrender.
While the distorted guitar and the musical vibe had me hitting repeat on this song over and over again, I just appreciated the honesty of the lyrics more than anything else. In the song's back half, Lake shares how following Jesus hasn't come easily, especially when forced to deal with his sin.
"I've wrestled with the darkness
But I'm tryin' to reach for the light
Yeah, the struggle keeps me honest
And it breaks down the walls of my pride."
Listening to "Hard Fought Hallelujah" by Brandon Lake reminded me to consider the context of someone's worship and prayers, which always go beyond what I can perceive from the outside looking in. The next time you hear someone say "Hallelujah," see them singing in a church service, or watch them praying, pause and think about how hard-fought those words and that worship could be. We have no idea the battles God is sustaining other people to endure.
Scott Savage is a pastor, author, and speaker with the best last name in the world. Scott’s writing helps people transform difficult circumstances into places where they can thrive. He leads Cornerstone Church in Prescott, Arizona, and loves watching movies with his wife and three kids. You can begin Scott’s life-changing project, The 21 Day Gratitude Challenge, today.
