Hard Fought Hallelujah!

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Have you had one of those days when nothing seems to go right? I know I have my share of days when I look back at what I have accomplished for the day and I feel like I have been working my tail off... all day... and I still don't have anything to show for it. Days like this just make you want to through your hands in the air and say, I give up! There is a song by Brandon Lake titled, Hard Fought Hallelujah. The lyrics to the first verse and chorus go like this: I don't always feel it, but that's when I need God the most. So I'll keep on singing, Til my soul catches up with my song. There are times when my hands go up freely and times that it costs me dearly. There's days when the praise comes out easy and days when it takes all the strength I've got. So I'll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah. I'll bring my storm-tossed, torn-sail, story-to-tell hallelujah, Cause God, You've been patient, God You've been gracious and faithful whatever I'm feeling or facing. So I'll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, it-is-well hallelujah!

John 16:33 ESV I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.

While we will face persecution and hardships as Christians, God will comfort and reward those who remain steadfast in faith! Jesus told the disciples to be of good cheer just as they were about to face the darkest, most troubling time of their lives. He would soon be leaving them, and Jesus knew that severe persecution, suffering, and even death awaited each of His disciples. The disciples were grieved and confused as Jesus said, “In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again.” They would all scatter, and most would abandon Him at the cross. But soon after, their doubt and fear would be transformed into faith and peace. Jesus told them, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” In the original language, the words translated as be of good cheer and take heart can also be understood as be bold, be confident, or be courageous. Jesus taught the disciples that they could have inner peace and courage. amid tribulation only by placing their faith in Him.

1 John 2: 28 ESV So now, little children, remain in Him so that when He appears we may have confidence and not be ashamed before Him at his coming.

In this world, you will encounter persecution and suffering, just as Jesus did!... Even if you face the threat of death, you can say, thanks be to God! Persecution to the point of death, now that is what I call a “Hard Fought Hallelujah!” However, be of good cheer, be joyous, be lighthearted, exuberant even, because Jesus has conquered the world. While the world offers only trouble, threat, and danger, we do not have to be anxious or afraid. We can be of good cheer because we belong to the One who has overcame the world! Nothing in this world can harm us because we belong to the One who is the most powerful and sits at the right hand of God. If you believe in Jesus and belong to Him, you too have overcome the world because the One living in you is greater than the one in the world.

1 John 4:4 ESV Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

So the next time your wrestling with the darkness of this world, the next time your struggling just to get through the day, bring your hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah to the one to whom one day every knee will bow! 

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