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Listen: TobyMac Releases ‘The Hard Times,’ Song of Hope

Listen: TobyMac Releases ‘The Hard Times,’ Song of Hope

Last updated on: October 30, 2026 at 1:12 pm by DeWayne Hamby

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Listen: TobyMac Releases ‘The Hard Times,’ Song of Hope 2026-10-30T13:12:09-04:00 DeWayne Hamby

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Seven-time GRAMMY® Award winner TobyMac has released his new single, “The Hard Times,” today, launching a new era following his chart-topping 2025 album, Heaven On My Mind. Written by TobyMac, Dave Lubben and Micah Kuiper, and produced by Kuiper and McKeehan, the song carries a message of hope for listeners navigating difficult seasons, acknowledging the weight of those experiences while pointing toward the growth and renewed faith that can emerge through them.

TobyMac image courtesy of The M Collective.

TobyMac who considers himself a songwriter first, lets us into his life—and helps us make sense of our own. For decades, he has turned personal experiences, from loss to the search for hope, by crafting lyrics that meet listeners in their struggles. On “The Hard Times,” it almost seems as if he’s celebrating the hard seasons—not the pain itself, but he knows that being forged by fire makes us stronger. By sharing his journey with honesty and courage, TobyMac reminds us we’re not alone in ours.

“For most of us, it takes the hard times in life to turn our hearts to God,” TobyMac says of the song’s inspiration. “They seem to be an invitation to sit at His feet. And it’s there, under His care that we can begin to grow into something beautiful.”

With more than five billion global career streams, eight million social followers and eight consecutive No. 1 radio singles since 2022, TobyMac enters this next chapter with a sustained connection to audiences. “The Hard Times” builds on that connection with a message that meets listeners in the struggles of everyday life.

The single follows the success of Heaven On My Mind, which debuted at No.1 on Billboard’s Top Christian Albums chart and generated more than 5.1 million global streams in its first week. Its singles extended TobyMac’s remarkable run at Christian radio: “Nothin’ Sweeter” spent nine consecutive weeks at No. 1, “a lil Church (nobody’s too lost)” topped Billboard’s AC chart, and the title track reached No. 1 on both the Billboard and Mediabase AC charts, marking his eighth consecutive radio chart-topper.

On June 26, 2026, TobyMac released “Heaven On My Mind – Guest List Edition,” an expanded collection featuring collaborative versions of songs from the album, fan favorites and one brand-new recording. The project brought together Forrest Frank, Jamie MacDonald, Jon Reddick, CeCe Winans, Third Day, gio., Terrian and Juan Winans. Highlights include “Heaven On My Mind” with Forrest Frank, “God Did It” with Jamie MacDonald, “Nothin’ Sweeter (Extra Sweet Version)” with Jon Reddick and “Oh My Soul (Psalm 103)” with CeCe Winans.

This fall, TobyMac is touring with Third Day and Chris Tomlin. He will launch HITS DEEP 2027 on January 28, 2027, joined by Jeremy Camp and Seph Schlueter. For tour dates and tickets, visit TobyMac.com/tour. Listen to “The Hard Times” HERE

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