Even If…Can I Really Say That?
There is a song that has been playing on the radio lately. It’s upbeat and positive, which would make anyone want to smile. And even though I want to agree with the chorus, if I’m truly honest, I’m not sure I can.
Even if my daylight never dawns
Rend Collective – Hallelujah Anyway
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
When days are going well. When the sun is shining on my back. When the flowers are in bloom. It’s easy to say hallelujah.
But what about on the bad days? What about when the sun goes down and the night seems too long? What about when the rain is pelting the flowers and stripping their petals? What about when a crisis smacks you when you’re not expecting?
Can you say hallelujah anyway?
If I’m honest, I’m not sure I could in those moments when life is not going as planned. I wish I could sing this song like an anthem of declaration. But I think it would be more of pleading for God to do one of His miracles.
With all the tragedies going on and the tension in Israel, I cannot help but ask myself, “If I were in their shoes, could I say hallelujah anyway?”
Some may say that is an extreme situation to ask this question. But God doesn’t ask us to follow Him in only the normal, run of the mill situations. He asks us to follow in the times of persecution, when the boat is rocking, when family and friends have run off.
Jesus didn’t ask us to pick up our cross and walk because He knew it would be easy. He called us to pick it up and follow him, because He knew that in our own strength we couldn’t handle it.
If following Jesus didn’t cost everything, would it be worth it?
But it is worth it.
I may not easily be able to say “Hallelujah anyway,” but I hope in those dark times I can cling to hope in those speechless moments.
And eventually be able to whisper hallelujah.
May we all lean more into Him and less into ourselves.
Peace
