It’s such a beautiful song.
Christian singer Brandon Lake and country star Lainey Wilson released “The Jesus I Know Now” in April. The song was written by Lake and Wilson alongside Emily Weisban and Luke Laird, following a conversation about the false teachings of the Word they had encountered throughout their lives.
In the opening verse, Lake describes the image of Jesus he grew up hearing about — an angry figure who would reject sinners who strayed from the straight and narrow.
“I was told He was angry
And He hated the music up too loud
I was told He would save me
If I showed up to church and I shut my mouth
If I smoked, if I drank, if I cussed, I’d think
I was on a long black train to Hell
Yeah, I thought I knew Him
‘Til I met Him for myself”
As the song continues, Lake and Wilson reflect on how their understanding of faith has changed since childhood. Rather than approaching God with fear, they sing about discovering a different picture of Him — one rooted in love, friendship and forgiveness.
Wilson’s solo verse is particularly personal. She acknowledges that achieving the success she once dreamed of, including hearing her music on the radio, did not necessarily bring the fulfillment she expected. Even at what appeared to be the height of her career, she found herself with an empty heart and nowhere to turn but back to Jesus.
“Yeah, I got what I wanted
Heard my song on the radio
Left me longing to know You
Top of the world with an empty heart
And nowhere left to go
But back into the arms
Of the Jesus I know now
Ain’t just a voice up there in the clouds
Yeah, the Jesus I know now
Ain’t lookin‘ for trophies to make him proud
I found a friend who hangs with the misfits
Listens, forgives and forgives again
Can’t believe I was missin’ out
On the Jesus I know now
On the Jesus I know now
The Jesus I know now”
Wilson’s words offer an honest look at the gap between outward success and inner fulfillment. From the outside, she had the career and accomplishments she had worked toward, yet those achievements alone could not give her the peace she was searching for.
Lake may already be familiar to country music fans through his hit “Gratitude.” He has also collaborated with country artists on “Hard Fought Hallelujah” with Jelly Roll and, more recently, “When A Cowboy Prays” with Cody Johnson.
The connection between Christian and country music is hardly new, but Christian music has been making a notable impact on the mainstream. In May 2025, two Christian songs appeared on the Hot 100 chart for the first time in more than a decade: Forrest Frank’s viral hit “Your Way’s Better” and Lake and Jelly Roll’s “Hard Fought Hallelujah.”
That wider interest makes “The Jesus I Know Now” especially meaningful. The song presents a message of love and forgiveness that can sometimes get lost when faith becomes a subject of mainstream pop culture debate.
At the 57th Annual GMA Dove Awards, Lake and Wilson won Country/Roots Recorded Song of the Year for the track. They also performed it during the ceremony, marking just the second time the duo had performed the song together.
Wilson grew up attending church and continues to speak openly about her faith. A Christian or gospel album from her would be an exciting possibility, particularly given her ability to connect with country audiences. She could bring her own perspective to both traditional gospel standards and contemporary Christian music.
Another collaboration with Lake would be welcome, too. With such a large platform in mainstream country, Wilson has an opportunity to share an important part of her life with listeners who may connect with the song’s message in their own way.
Check it out:
“The Jesus I Know Now”
