Taya Reveals The Painful Backstory Behind Hillsong United's Worship Song “Even When It Hurts”

Taya Reveals The Painful Backstory Behind Hillsong United’s Worship Song “Even When It Hurts.” During a heartfelt round table discussion on TBN’s Choosing To Praise, worship artist Taya Gaukrodger offered an emotional glimpse into the making of “Even When It Hurts”, one of Hillsong United’s most soul-stirring songs, revealing it was born in the depths of personal heartbreak.

Nearly a decade ago, while touring with Hillsong United, Taya found herself in the middle of a devastating breakup. “It was kinda really hard,” she shared. “This was someone I thought I was gonna marry. I thought it would end up there.”

It was during this vulnerable time that Joel Houston, longtime United leader and songwriter, handed her a song he had written. “He said, ‘Hey, I’d love you to sing this,’” Taya recalled. But as she began reading through the lyrics, something happened. The words weren’t just a melody waiting to be recorded—they felt like divine timing.

“I was like, ‘How do you expect me to sing this without crying?’” she said. The lyrics read:

Even when my strength is lost, I’ll praise You. Even when I have no song, I will praise You… Even when it hurts like hell, even when it makes no sense to sing, louder then I’ll sing Your praise.

In that studio moment, the line between art and life blurred. Joel’s response to her tears was reassuring: “You don’t have to hide. Obviously, you can be yourself before the Lord. If you need to cry, cry.”

Taya described the experience not as a performance, but a spiritual encounter. “It felt like God to give me that kind of song in the midst of heartbreak,” she said.

“This looks completely different than what I thought my life was gonna look like, and I was asking, ‘Lord, how do I move through this brokenness?’”

“Even When It Hurts” became more than a song—it became a sanctuary. “He gave me the gift of a song to consistently place myself in the presence of God,” Taya shared. “It’s the safest place, where you find healing, restoration, and hope. That’s when hope is infused into your veins.”

The recording process became an act of surrender. Taya didn’t hold back tears in the vocal booth. Instead, she let them flow, transforming pain into praise, heartbreak into healing.

What started as a vulnerable moment in the studio became a global anthem for believers walking through grief, loss, and uncertainty. And for Taya, it stands as a testimony to a God who doesn’t wait for perfection—only honesty.