If it wasn't for the times that I was down   If it wasn't for the times that I was bound   For all the times that I wondered   How I would ever make it through   All of the times that I couldn't see my way   And I had to turn to You      How would I know You could deliver   How would I know You could set free   If there had never been a battle   How would I know the victory   How would I know You could be faithful   To meet all of my needs   Lord I appreciate the hard times   Otherwise how would I know      I remember all the times I had to cry   And at the time all I could do was wonder why   Why would a God so kind and loving   Allow me to go through all this pain   If I could see into the future   Then I would know the joy I'd gain      But how would I know You could deliver   How would I know You could set free   If there had never been a battle   How would I know the victory   How would I know You could be faithful   To meet all of my needs   Lord I appreciate the hard times   Otherwise how would I know      How would I know that you could   Make a way out of no way   How would I know if I never had a need   Brother, I know what you're goin' through   Sister, I know 'cause I've been in your shoes   But I can truly say that I know what God can do      How would I know You could deliver   How would I know You could set free   If there had never been a battle   How would I know the victory   How would I know You could be faithful   To meet all of my needs   Lord I appreciate the hard times   Otherwise how would I know   Otherwise how would I know      How would I know You could set free   How would I know You deliver me   How would I know You could make a way   How would I know You could meet my needs   How would I know   How would I know   I wouldn't have known   I wouldn't have known