The Hardest Hallelujah
Psalm 146:2 — I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath.
There are moments when I look back and realize God was writing a deeper story than the one I thought I was living.
Several years ago, I sat down with some friends to write a song called “Let It Be a Hallelujah.” At the time, it felt like we were simply putting words to a conviction: praise isn’t reserved for the mountaintops. Praise belongs in every season.
In joy, “Hallelujah.”
In fear, “Hallelujah.”
In abundance, “Hallelujah.”
And even in suffering, “Hallelujah.”
But while we were writing the song, we received devastating news. My co-writer and dear friend, Busby, had been diagnosed with glioblastoma, an aggressive brain tumor.
Suddenly, the song wasn’t theoretical anymore.
Would I still sing hallelujah when grief walked into the room? Would I still praise God when my understanding ran out?
The answer became much more personal: All my life.
Not just the chapters I enjoy. Not just when prayers are answered the way I want. All my life.
Real praise in that moment wasn’t pretending everything was okay. It was choosing to lift my eyes toward God while my heart was breaking.
That’s what I’ve come to believe: whatever we walk through can become an opportunity to redirect our hearts and our glory back to God.
Years later, this song is still a heart check for me. Every time I step onto a stage, I have to ask myself, Why am I here?
Am I here to receive the hallelujah? To have people leave talking about my talent or my performance?
Or am I here to point to Him?
Psalm 146 reminds us, “I will praise the Lord as long as I live.” Every breath is another opportunity to give God our hallelujah.
Maybe today, your hallelujah is simply five seconds of gratitude. Maybe it’s thanking God for His faithfulness when you don’t know what comes next.
Whatever season you’re in, lift your eyes toward Him.
Because even in the hard, He is still good.
— Lauren Daigle
A MOMENT TO REFLECT
- What season are you in right now—and what might your “hallelujah” look like in that season?
- Are you praising God only for what He’s done, or also for who He is?
- What’s one thing you can thank God for today, even if life isn’t going the way you hoped?
L Y R I C S
Take my life and let it be
My soul devoted Lord to Thee
Take my moments and all my days
Make them endless praise
Take my heart and let it move
In spirit and in truth
For the glory of Your name
With every breath that’s in me
With every song and melody
Let it be a hallelujah
In every breaking moment
In every blessing that You give
Let it be a hallelujah
Oh Lord, let it be a hallelujah
All my hopes and all my fears
Every trial, every tear
In the chaos, You remain
Faithful all the way
Through the victories
Through the scars
Let me echo who You are
For the glory of Your name
With every breath that’s in me
With every song and melody
Let it be a hallelujah
In every breaking moment
In every blessing that You give
Let it be a hallelujah
Oh Lord, let it be a hallelujah
Oh, let it be a hallelujah
Let it be a hallelujah
Nothing, but a hallelujah to you, God
Oh, let it be a hallelujah
All my life a hallelujah
Let it be a hallelujah to You, God
