Jake Isaac’s new song leads us in joyful praise of a God who never fails, even in the messiness of life, says our music editor
In a world of uncertainty, it is great to be reminded that God is with us. Jake and Mates’ new song, ‘God is for me’, gives us words to praise God’s everlasting faithfulness.
Musician Jake Isaac continues to bless the UK music scene with his uplifting blend of jazz, soul and gospel. Isaac gained widespread recognition in 2014 when his performance at Glastonbury Festival coincided with his second EP War Child reaching number one on the iTunes singer-songwriter charts. Signed to Elton John’s record label, Isaac has performed with artists such as Paloma Faith and Joss Stone, as well as the Rocket Man himself.
Alongside his mainstream music, Isaac launched Jake and Mates last year, a collective that aims to encourage and unite different communities in worship. ‘God is for me’ is the first single from their new album, Songs of Deliverance.
The acoustically driven song includes gentle, lilting melodies and the warm, soulful vocals of Lilli-El Kwagala, from Way Church in Wigan, where Isaac serves as associate creative director. Lyrically, it focuses on God’s steady love in changing, challenging circumstances, which feels particularly poignant in today’s unsteady world.
Speaking to Premier Christianity, Isaac described the song as a response to the warped perception of God found in some prosperity gospel teachings, saying he felt led by the Holy Spirit to write about the security we have in Christ.
Verse one gives us language to praise God who is present in the messiness of life: “You’re so faithful, you’re so good”. Verse two, which sings of how we are “redeemed by a God who saves”, brings us back to Christ’s sacrifice on the cross that frees us from sin and shame.
The song takes its listener on a journey of personal devotion, declaring: “In every trial, in every season, you’ve been there for me.”
The repeated chorus of “Hallelujah, Hallelujah / God is for me / If God is for me / Who can be against?” picks up a biblical theme from Romans 8. It gives us language to exalt God and rejoice that we have direct access to Him by His Spirit, reminding us that God is actively present with His people.
Its upbeat structure and tempo make the song ideal for church worship and leading congregations into joyful times of praise. Isaac has written a worship song that is fresh and heartfelt, while also providing powerful language for us to respond. ‘God is for me’ is a reflection of Isaac’s talent for writing beautiful, distinctive music, as well as his love of God’s character and grace.
‘God is for me’ by Jake and Mates (feat Lilli-El Kwagala) is available to stream now on all music platforms
