By: Ali Elizabeth Turner
There is a song out right now that I find to be so encouraging when I would just as soon roll up and staple the covers over my head. It is called “Hard Fought Hallelujah,” and it is a raw reminder of the need to praise God even when it’s tough to do so, or more importantly, to be so. The most viral version is a duet performed by two young men who have “been there, done that,” and have lived to tell the tale. They are Brandon Lake and a fellow whose stage name is Jelly Roll. Brandon wrote the song, and Jelly just knew that he needed to do the song with Brandon. So, they collaborated, and have also become the best of friends. Jelly did some serious prison time as a young man, having been arrested 40 times before the age of 22, and has no problem talking about the fact that his drug-related crimes were heinous. He has testified in Congress about his activities dealing drugs, about which he openly said, “I was part of the problem, and now I want to be part of the solution.” Below is the song in part, and I hope it helps you not just praise, but become a “praiser.”
Hard Fought Hallelujah
Yeah, I don’t always feel it Yeah, but that’s when I need it the most So, I’ma keep on singing ‘Til my soul catches up with my song
There’s times when my hands go up freely And times that it costs, oh-oh There’s days when a praise comes out easy Days when it takes all the strength I got
Chorus
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 ‘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, whoa-oh Hallelujah, hallelujah
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
‘Cause faith isn’t proven like gold ‘Til it’s been through the fire, eh-eh My head, heart, and hands are feeling heavy But that’s when I lift them just a little higher
Brandon also has a similar background to Jelly when it comes to drugs and dealing, but without the incarceration. He went through a 12-step program, and completed 11 steps. The 12th, which is about sponsoring and mentoring someone else, is what helps people through all kinds of life’s difficulties. It is proven that if you are going through a tough time, helping someone else strengthens you to get through your own tough time. And, Brandon learned the hard way that the 12th is crucial, because he relapsed. However, the people he loved intervened, and it was that love that would not give up on him that caused him to complete the program and stay clean and sober.
The point is, you don’t have to be strung out to have serious struggles. We were told that we would absolutely have tribulation on this side of heaven, and they are typically substance-free struggles. However, I have found that choosing to be a “praiser” when it is the very hardest is the quickest way I know to alter my internal landscape and plant something beautiful that will make my Maker smile. I invite you to join me, and together, let’s get good at it.
April 18, 2025
