Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, The Jesus I Know Now | Music Lifts

In the 23^rd edition of Music Lifts (2026), we’re uplifted by Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson performing “The Jesus I Know Now.”

Welcome to Music Lifts, featuring songs that encourage, inspire, and uplift the spirit; songs that exude fortitude, positivity, and resolve, even in the face of adversity.  Featured songs aren’t genre-specific; songs may or may not be faith-based. The goal is for these songs to make you feel better – be LIFTED to new heights!  So, for the 23^rd edition of Music Lifts (2026), we highlight “The Jesus I Know Now” as performed by Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson.

Let those introspective, prudent, and thought-provoking lyrics from Brandon Lake sink in. The Grammy-winning Contemporary Christian musician collaborates with Grammy-winning country singer-songwriter Lainey Wilson on the powerful, inspirational single “The Jesus I Know Now”. “The Jesus I Know Now” was written by Lake, Wilson, Emily Weisband, and Luke Laird. Jacob Sooter and Hank Bentley produced it.

Given the personnel, it shouldn’t be shocking that “The Jesus I Know Now” has a country-tinged sound and vibe. Brandon Lake has a knack for eclecticism, mixing genres seamlessly within the Christian music space. As for Lainey Wilson, she is firmly planted in country music; therefore, she’s in her wheelhouse.  Both sing exceptionally well – we buy what they are selling.  Brandon takes the reins initially, performing the first verse. Before the lines excerpted earlier, he asserts, “I was told He would save me / If I showed up to church and I shut my mouth.” Simple and true, but technically, there’s more to it, which Lake also states. Lainey appears for the first time, joining in on select lines: “If I smoked, if I drank, if I cussed, I’d think / I was on a long black train to Hell.” Salvation is a key theme. Their roles are reversed in the second verse, where Wilson leads the charge (“Yeah, I’m learnin’ He knows me / Every hair on my head, every story behind my scars”). Once more, there are select lines with both singing and a few lyrics where Lake leads.  Where the bread is buttered is when both artists perform the centerpiece, the chorus:

“But the Jesus I know now

Ain’t shakin’ a fist, ain’t raisin’ a brow

Yeah, the Jesus I know now

Ain’t runnin’ away from a party crowd

I found a friend

Who hangs with the misfits, listens, forgives, then forgives again

Can’t believe I was missin’ out

On the Jesus I know now.”

There is also a post-chorus, performed solely by Lake the first time, with both performing it the second time (separately).  Lainey performs the bridge alone (“Top of the world with an empty heart / And nowhere left to go / But back into the arms…”), leading into the final chorus and outro. Here, again, the emphasis is on an authentic, sincere relationship with Jesus. Ultimately, “The Jesus I Know Now” is a powerful, thoughtful, and uplifting inspirational duet by Brandon Lake and Lainey Wilson.  The song emphasizes the awesomeness of J-E-S-U-S above everything else, a real relationship.

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Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson » “The Jesus I Know Now” » Provident Label Group LLC » 2026

Brandon Lake & Lainey Wilson, The Jesus I Know Now: Music Lifts No. 23 (2026) [📷: Brent Faulkner / The Musical Hype; Provident Label Group LLC; Emma Bauso, foad shariyati, nappy, Niko Twisty, Victoria Strelka_ph, Wolrider YURTSEVEN from Pexels; Gordon Johnson from Pixabay]

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