Songs on the new album, produced by Ed Cash (Dave Barnes, Chris Tomlin), Chris Stevens (Toby Mac, Sanctus Real), Jeff Pardo (Josh Wilson, Denver and the Mile High Orchestra), and Steve Wilson (Josh Wilson, Leeland), encompass a full range of human emotions – from the buoyant heights of love to the immense depths of grief; from praising God for His greatness to a cry for those whose lives are broken. It is Diaz’s ability to express the human condition in song that connects him with fellow believers. Through his music the Church receives challenging and encouraging reminders that every broken human life can find redemption in God’s love.
Jonny Diaz released three independent projects before signing with INO Records. His first release as a signed artist was titled More Beautiful You (2009). This album produced the No. 1 radio single “More Beautiful You,” as well as Top 10 “Waiting Room,” and led to a 2010 Dove Award nomination for New Artist of the Year.
In his latest project, Diaz found himself revisiting topics from previous songwriting efforts and collaborating with Audrey Assad, Mia Fieldes, Kate York (co-writer on “More Beautiful You”) and Chris Stevens. “It can be challenging coming up with new ways to express themes that are important to believers. Co-writing encourages and inspires me,” says Diaz. “My own personal growth and new insights gave me fresh perspectives on old material, and co-writing added exciting and alternative ways to express what I was learning.”
One such song is “How Can It Be,” a celebration reveling in the greatness of God. “Years ago I wrote a song called ‘Small Enough’ that posed the question, Can the great God Who created the Universe and the billions of people on this planet also be small enough to know and care about me? I no longer question that aspect of God’s character. Instead, I find myself marveling in the fact that God really is that big and rejoicing in the knowledge that He is genuinely concerned about me.” This new perspective of celebrating life’s difficult questions is also heard in the graceful melodies of “God Is Watching” and the comforting lyrics of “Here and Someday,” a song that takes an honest look at grief.
Do not be mistaken, though. Diaz does not sit back and simply write songs of comfort and encouragement – he confronts timely issues in the Church, such as with the challenge to Christians to not settle for a Sunday routine through the pop-jazz fusion of “Figured Out.” He also takes on a personal search for God’s heart for the poor in the cry of “Break My Heart.” “These days we can become immune, and we need to be brokenhearted for the poor, to feel their pain the way that Christ feels it. We simply cannot sit by and listen to another children’s appeal at concerts or on television.”
The inclusion of the debut radio single “Beauty of the Cross” on the album was especially important to Diaz. “This is the first song I’ve recorded that I haven’t written. The first time I heard it, I was drawn straight to God’s throne in worship. I am not a ‘worship artist’ but there is something special about this song and I wanted to be a part of it,” he explains. “The great irony and beauty here is that we’re singing about one of the most awful torture devices ever conceived by man, and yet we are calling it ‘beautiful.’ Those of us whose lives have been changed by the sacrifice Jesus made for us at Calvary know exactly why the cross is so beautiful.”
Diaz explores another paradox in “What Water Can Do,” written after record floodwaters hit his hometown Nashville. Uncertain how to approach the topic, he considered how the water destroyed houses, took lives and swept away possessions, and started to think about how God uses water in some amazing ways. The song tells the story of one man, who loses everything in the flood, watch his neighbors heed a call to serve, mimicking the response of the Nashville community after the flood. It tells how the people’s service impacted this man as he steps into the baptistry and accepts Christ as Savior. Says Diaz, “Initially water brought tragedy, but God uses water to revive a community and change a man’s life.”
Diaz looks forward to sharing these new songs on the road. Though he has toured with well-known acts like MercyMe and Matthew West, Diaz feels that he finds those opportunities to truly connect with people in smaller venues. “As an artist, I believe God gifted me with an ability to relate through the songs and stories I share. I like looking out at the crowd and seeing the smiles on faces or tears in the eyes and knowing straightaway that these songs are connecting.”
Back when Diaz started playing music in college, he told himself he would continue as long as people were interested – and he feels that it is clearer now more than ever that this is what God has for him. “I love making music; it’s challenging and fun,” he says, “but my prayer is always: Whatever God wants me to do, that is where I want to be. It a prayer of abandon to be used by God wherever and whenever.” And today that is sharing music that entertains, encourages and, above all, challenges the body of Christ.
*From jonnydiaz.com
Joy
Jonny Diaz Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And my eyes just can′t see
A quick way out
And it might seem life's got it out for me
Like I′m in way too deep
But I have found
Every single circumstance
I can place in greater hands
I've got joy down in my soul
I′m gonna take it everywhere I go
Not gonna worry ′bout what I don't know
I′ll be alright as long as I've got
Joy here in my heart
Wavin′ like a torch fightin' off the dark
In the jet black night I′m gonna see the stars
I'll be alright as long as I've got
Joy, joy, joy
So I′ll just cast my cares
Won′t sink into despair
I won't find answers there, only doubt
Every single circumstance
I can place in greater hands
God I know you′ll never let me down
I've got joy down in my soul
I′m gonna take it everywhere I go
Not gonna worry 'bout what I don′t know
I'll be alright as long as I've got
Joy here in my heart
Wavin′ like a torch fightin′ off the dark
In the jet black night I'm gonna see the stars
I′ll be alright as long as I've got
Joy, joy, joy
Gonna be my strength, be my truth
Gonna light the way and see me through
Gonna be my hope, be my shield
Gonna lift me up no matter how I feel
Gonna be my strength, be my truth
Gonna light the way and see me through
Gonna be my hope, be my shield
Gonna lift me up no matter how I feel
I′ve got joy down in my soul
I'm gonna take it everywhere I go
Not gonna worry ′bout what I don't know
I'll be alright as long as I′ve got
Joy here in my heart
Wavin′ like a torch fightin' off the dark
In the jet black night I′m gonna see the stars
I'll be alright as long as I′ve got
Joy, joy, joy
I'll be alright as long as I′ve got
Joy, joy, joy
I'll be alright as long as I've got joy
The lyrics of Jonny Diaz's song 'Joy' express a message of hope and faith in God during difficult times. The opening lines suggest that the singer is going through a period of trouble and can't see a quick way out of his predicament. Despite feeling like life is against him and that he is in too deep, he has found comfort in surrendering his worries to a higher power. The chorus emphasizes the theme of joy as the singer asserts that he has it down in his soul and will take this joy with him wherever he goes. Even though he doesn't know what the future holds, he is confident that he will be alright as long as he has joy in his heart to fight off the darkness that might come his way.
The second verse emphasizes the singer's decision to cast his cares aside and not to sink into despair. He trusts that God will never let him down and can handle whatever situation he is in. The bridge of the song reinforces the idea that God is the singer's strength, truth, hope, and shield. He knows that with God's help, he will be lifted up even when he doesn't feel like it.
Overall, the lyrics of 'Joy' invite listeners to find hope and joy in their faith and to trust in a higher power to see them through their struggles. The repetition of the word 'joy' throughout the song reinforces the importance of having joy in our lives, even in the midst of hardship.
Line by Line Meaning
I might be halfway through this valley
I acknowledge that I might be in a difficult situation
And my eyes just can’t see a quick way out
It seems like there’s no easy solution to my problems
And it might seem like life’s got it out for me
I feel like life is working against me
Like I’m in way too deep, but I have found
Although I feel stuck, I have found a source of comfort
Every single circumstance, I can place in greater hands
I trust that there's a higher power that can take care of my problems
I won’t let my troubles bring me down
I refuse to let my problems defeat me
I've got joy down in my soul
I have a deep sense of happiness within me
I'm gonna take it everywhere I go
I plan to allow this joy to influence every area of my life
Not gonna worry 'bout what I don't know
I won’t stress about things I can’t control
I'll be alright as long as I've got joy here in my heart
I know that as long as I have my joy, I’ll be okay
Wavin' like a torch fightin' off the dark
I'll use my joy like a beacon to overcome dark times
In the jet black night I'm gonna see the stars
Even in the darkest of times, there's always hope
So I’ll just cast my cares
I’ll let go of my worries
Won’t sink into despair
I won’t let my situation defeat me
I won't find answers there, only doubt
I won’t find solutions in despair, only more problems
God I know you'll never let me down
I have faith in a higher power to support me
Gonna be my strength, be my truth, gonna light the way and see me through
I rely on my faith to be my source of strength and guidance
Gonna be my hope, be my shield, gonna lift me up no matter how I feel
I trust that my faith can protect and inspire me regardless of my emotions
I’ll be alright as long as I’ve got joy
I know that my joy will keep me going no matter what
Joy, joy, joy
I’ll keep my joy with me always
Writer(s): Jeffrey Thomas Pardo, Jonny Diaz, Fieldes Mia
Contributed by Ian Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Joy Rebecca Palmer
WOW! I LOVE this 😍 music for my soul 💙🙏🕊️
Drayke Ryan
Same
Lia
Wow! Perfect timing to hear this song for the first time. I found it "Godcidently" when I searched for his song waiting room. They both fit my current prayer/situation! 🙏
wolfsrule100
Wow! I want this to be my theme song for 2019! This year is was a very hard, long year and I strayed from God. This song is such a wonderful uplifting reminder that God is always there no matter what.
MechWomanWarrior15
"Happiness is caused by things which happen around me, and circumstances will mar it, but joy flows on through trouble; joy flows on through the dark; joy flows in the night as well as in the day; joy flows all through persecution and opposition; it is an unceasing fountain bubbling up in the heart; a secret spring which the world can't see and doesn't know anything about." - D. L. Moody
Robin Johnson
I got Joy in my heart... laughter fills my being... this is a good song
Tori F
The perfect wake-up-get-moving song for my mornings. ♡♡
Austin Matney
Here, here.
Happy
0:45
Joy here in my heart
Wavin' like a torch fightin' off the dark
In the jet black night I'm gonna see the stars
I'll be alright as long as I've got
Joy, joy, joy
Evangelista Yadira Bueso
Many blessings to all of you brothers and sisters in Christ.🙏 let’s praise the Holy name of our Lord Jesús.👏🙌