Reflection #1 on "Joy" by Newsboys  [song lyrics]

• originally released by solidsounds.org, 08/13/2003
• author: Suzy C.
• scripture reference: 1 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 13:8

	From the album "Shine: The Hits" (2000) Read the song lyrics...

Joy unspeakable, joy that cannot be spoken, impossible? Not according to the Newsboys or the Apostle Peter. In the book of First Peter he writes the following concerning Jesus:

"and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believing in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory." (1Peter 1:8).

Joy is something we don't seem to talk about much these days. We seem too busy with the details of life to really consider whether we are enjoying it or not. Those things we once did for fun can become burdens in a schedule too crowded for deep breathing. But Peter was pointing all his readers to a joy that surpasses expression, a joy that goes beyond the activity of the day or the circumstances. This joy is unshaken by the closing numbers of the stock market or the latest inflation rate forecast. This joy is founded on something much firmer, much stronger and eternal.

As Peter said, we have not seen Jesus in the flesh walking among us today, but we love Him. And we don't see Him now but we believe in Him and that believing produces in us a joy. Consider this statement:

Something that cannot be seen cannot be changed by something that can be seen.

Jesus, who we do not now see, can never be changed by anything we can see. The ups and downs of the economy don't change Him. The change of political leaders can't change Him. Nothing we see can change Him, Who we do not see. He remains the same. He remains the Savior, the Redeemer, the One who forgives us, loves us, the One Who died for us.

In a world where everything changes so quickly, a world where you have to watch the news twice a day, read the paper and check the Internet just to stay on top of things; the unchangeableness of the Savior is a source of real joy. The writer of the book of Hebrews said:

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

When everything in my world seems to be spinning around me, when my life seems to be a little out of control, when things happen that I don't understand, I can return to the fact that Jesus never changes. That produces joy in me. And sometimes, especially in the times when I don't know what to do, that joy is beyond expression. Yes, joy unspeakable and full of glory.

--Suzy C.

Scripture Reference: 1 Peter 1:8; Hebrews 13:8