A happy day today as the new Rend Collective CD ‘Whosoever’ was finally delivered through my letterbox. The song ‘Hallelujah Anyway’ is one of those ‘even if…’ songs which mean a great deal to me. Praise is, at times, a sacrifice; it’s also the best way to respond to every situation, no matter how dire. There’s a holy defiance in praise which may not make sense to the natural mind but which is the faith response of all who trust God.
“I’ll find a way to praise You
From the bottom of my broken heart
‘Cause I think I’d rather strike a match than curse the dark.
I’ll find a way to thank You
Though bitterness is real and hard
‘Cause I’d rather take a chance on hope than fall apart.
I don’t think I’m ready to surrender to the dark
No
Even if my daylight never dawns,
Even if my breakthrough never comes,
Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise.
Even if my dreams fall to the ground,
Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found,
Even if my heart will somehow say,
Hallelujah anyway.
I hear a hymn of triumph
In the wilderness of my lament
In the lowlands or the mountain tops, I won’t forget,
All that goodness that You have shown me
The promises that You have kept
There’s better days on the horizon up ahead.
Even if my daylight never dawns
Even if my breakthrough never comes
Even if I’ll fight to bring You praise
Even if my dreams fall to the ground
Even if I’m lost, I know I’m found
Even if my heart will somehow say
Hallelujah anyway
Let it rise, let it rise
In the dark or the light
Oh, my soul, stand and fight
If you’ve got a song to sing, let it rise.” (“Hallelujah Anyway”, Rend Collective)