When You Need to Raise a Hallelujah
Bruce and I slid quietly into the last row in the sanctuary just as the worship band started to sing.
My whole body felt on fire. I was sweating like I’d run a marathon, and I’m quite sure my blood pressure was through the roof.
The past 48 hours had aged me, and the world felt heavy.
I had no idea how we were going to make it through.
I’m just not strong enough. I can’t do this.
I sucked in a deep breath and started using the church bulletin like a fan to try to cool myself down.
Lord, I need you. I need you to come like the rain and cover me with a refreshing.
I closed my mind to everything around me and let the eyes of my heart look up to heaven as everyone around me sang. The words were hard to say, so at first, I just mouthed them. My soundless lips formed faith-filled phrases I desperately needed to hear.
I needed to raise a hallelujah.
Sometimes it hurts to say hallelujah. It’s hard when everywhere you look you see the fingerprints of a hellish plot to destroy you.
How can this be part of your plan for me, God? I just don’t understand why You allowed this.
Have you ever been there? Is your weary heart tired of trusting God because your dream is shattered into a million tiny pieces?
I get it. Really, I do.
Maybe God is waiting for you to look up and mouth a hard hallelujah. Maybe that’s where the healing begins.
Friend, God can but speak a word and create something out of nothing. Look all around you at the delicate flowers and leaves of grass. He orders everything beautifully.
And, He does not stand idly by and watch us weep. He wails with us. Our Savior is a Man of Sorrows. He took on flesh and gave all to set us free from this brokenness.
One day soon, God will wipe away every tear. No more death. No more defeat. No more oppression. Every obstacle will be removed.
Your Deliverer is sweetly singing salvation over your life.
Sometimes, our pain screams so loudly we just struggle to hear the rhythm of redemption that underscores everything we experience.
I have to believe there is a heavenly melody stronger than all the noise in this world.
For the last 4 months, I have whispered hallelujah in the darkness, and God has met me in the space between fear and faith.
I have forced my lips to form the word even when I wasn’t feeling it.
Hallelujah, today I get to breathe. Thank you, Jesus.
Hallelujah, Your mercies are new every morning. The sun will shine again.
Hallelujah, You bring dead things back to life.
Hallelujah, You are my Help. You are my hope. You are my healing.
I don’t know where you are standing right now, but God sees you. Your Abba Father knows your every heartache.
He longs to give you beauty for these ashes.
Maybe you aren’t ready to step into the sanctuary and sing hallelujah today, but God will meet you in a hallway. You can trust Him with your shattered heart.
Ask Him to help you whisper hallelujah.
4 Reasons You Need to Raise a Hallelujah
When you are knocked down by opposition, hallelujah helps you look to God who holds you up above your enemies.
The enemy of your soul wants to cover you in shame and fear, but God is the Lifter of your head. Shout unto the Lord with arms upraised right where you are, and the Lord will subdue the opposition and give you a firm place to stand.
“God holds me head and shoulders above all who try to pull me down. I’m headed for His place to offer anthems that will raise the roof! Already I’m singing God-songs; I’m making music to God.” (Psalm 27:6, MSG)
When you are overwhelmed with worry and doubt, praise elevates your spirit and drowns out the unbelief.
On those nights when the questions about “what if?” are cluttering up your mind, don’t let the enemy rent space in your head and rob you of much needed slumber. Just say no to those questions and rehearse the truth. As you speak His name, declare He is good, and make melody in your heart, His peace will guard you and give you rest.
“I lie awake each night thinking of You and reflecting on how You help me like a Father. I sing through the night under Your splendor-shadow, offering up to You my songs of delight and joy! With passion I pursue and cling to You. Because I feel Your grip on my life, I keep my soul close to Your heart.” (Psalm 63:6-8, TPT)
When you lack strength to make decisions or take action, worship equips you with strength to lift up God’s Word like a weapon.
Remember the walls of Jericho fell as the people of God carried trumpets and kept marching. God will equip you for battle. Use whatever God has placed in your hand to praise Him, and you will see those strongholds come down.
“For He enjoys His faithful lovers. He adorns the humble with His beauty and He loves to give them the victory. His godly lovers triumph in the glory of God, and their joyful praises will rise even while others sleep. God’s high and holy praises fill their mouths, for their shouted praises are their weapons of war!” (Psalm 149:4-6, TPT)
When you feel vulnerable and defenseless, thanksgiving is a war cry proclaiming God fights your battles.
The God of Angel Armies will hear you shout His name and surround you with His protection. You have victory in Jesus, and no weapon formed against you shall prosper.
“But me? I will sing of Your strength. I will awake with the sun to sing of Your loving mercy. Because in my most troubled hour, You defended me. You were my shelter. I will lift my voice to sing Your praise, O my Strength—for You came to my defense. O God, You have shown me Your loving mercy.” (Psalm 59:16-17, VOICE)
Are you ready to raise a hallelujah?
To help you get started, I put together list of “10 Verses to Help You Raise a Hallelujah.” Download a copy, print it out, and pray over one passage each morning for the next 10 days. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library.
As you whisper hallelujah right where you are today, you are encouraging the weary hearted to turn to the God of hope for their salvation and strength. He alone is God, and He is worthy of our praise. He will give you a new song to sing as you raise a hallelujah, and everyone around you will watch in wonder. One glorious day, we will all stand together before the throne and sing holy, holy, holy.
Until then, may this lost world hear our praises roar and find redemption.
Raise a hallelujah even when it hurts, and you’ll start healing.
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Hallelujah! Praise the Lord anyhow!
Bless you,
Jennifer
Singing with you! xo
So many of the psalms are like that–the psalmist begins in heaviness, even despair, and ends up with praise and faith, even though the circumstances haven’t changed yet. We need to do the same, and God so graciously meets us in any circumstances.
So true, Barb! All of the verses on the printable are from Psalms, by the way. I was so encouraged as I typed out those affirming Scriptures. God is on the throne, and He is good.
Amen!
If every single blessing that we fail to praise God for was suddenly taken away, we would never survive! He’s the source of my next breath.
We are incredibly blessed just to know that He hears our prayers. Right? I am trying to be more focused on my blessings and less focused on brokenness.
Yes, may we always raise a hallelujah for He is always worthy! So encouraging this morning!
Love you, friend. You are such a sweet encouragement and prayer warrior sister! 🙂
Oh, I have been there, my friend!
I think we would all do well to remember that Hallelujah’s aren’t based on how we feel. They are a promise, an act of faith, a weapon in the spirit world. A single Hallelujah can change everything without us even knowing.
(And I love that worship song “Raise a Hallelujah”)
Yes, that song has become an anthem for me during this new season.
I agree. I love how so many of the psalms start and end with hallelujah. It’s a reminder to me of how I need to frame my thinking.
Oh Lyli, I’m so glad you posted on your blog today, friend! Hallelujah. This week, I went through the freebie reading plan I prepared for readers last weekend, to help them enlarge their view of God. I’m the first person who needs to lift my eyes heavenward and ask God for more revelation of his greatness and love! So I’m raising a hallelujah this morning.
Thank you, Betsy. I raised my arms up in the air and said hallelujah after I hit publish on this post. It’s the first words I’ve written specifically for this community in 4 months. I had to fight for every word, but it was a sweet victory to get it written. Praise the Lord! He gives us the grace we need.
Praying for you and walking along a similar path, dear Lyli.
Peace and grace,
Tammy
Hugs and prayers right back at ya, Tammy.
I so resonated with the scene in church. Thank you for sharing. laurensparks.net
Getting to church was a major victory for us that week. I was so encouraged just from sitting quietly in the back. I understand so much better now how the Holy Spirit is our Comforter.
Lyli, why do I always forget to saunter over here on Friday? I love your words, your heart, your linkup – and yet I forget to visit. Forgive me, friend. And, your post is so good today. I don’t know what is breaking you but I do know that raising a hard hallelujah has to be a good, good thing. I raise one with you, sister.
Hey, Susan,
No need to apologize, friend. Things have been hit or miss around here since May. Lots of changes in my life, but God is good. He is helping us through one step at a time.
So great to see you here today! You are loved. HUGS
Thank you, Lyli… I’ve had seasons of hectic. I get it! Raising a hallelujah today!
The sacrifice of praise!
Yes! Many of the commentaries I read on these scripture passages used the phrase “sacrifice of joy,” which I loved. When we choose joy in the middle of a hard space it pleases Him.
The hard hallelujahs may mean the most to God. Bless you, my friend.
I think so, too! 🙂
I’m raising a hallelujah right with you Lyli.
We sing that song at our church too. It brings powerful healing moments. Raising a hallelujah isn’t always easy, but it is always good. Thanks for sharing, Lyli.
God bless , strengthen and encourage you, Lyli!
I recently heard this song for the first time and loved it. It really ministered to me just as the Pinterest image, blog title and blog post did as well. This was a really good perspective interpretation of the song. Thanks for sharing with such transparency.