From my first listen, I wanted to tell others about this great new band from the Portland, Oregon area, who immediately reminded me of my favorite band NEEDTOBREATHE. They named their group The Neverclaim based on the idea that "we never want to claim God's glory as our own," according to lead singer Jeremiah Carlson.

The Neverclaim's major label debut album included the standout songs "One Truth, One Life," "Mighty Jesus" and "Steal Their Hearts" and was one of my top 5 worship albums of 2013. I'm drawn to Jeremiah's sincerity, emotive singing and profound, biblical songwriting. 

In John 16:33, Jesus says "In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." Resolutely moving forward with that passage at heart, Carlson and his band mates Chuck Hill (bass), Mitchell Maldonado (guitar/keys) and Beji George (drums) began working on The Neverclaim's second studio album, their independent release The Joy. They crafted this album with GRAMMY nominated, two-time Dove Award-winning Producer of the Year Ian Eskelin. It is available everywhere on July 17. I had the chance to speak with Jeremiah Carlson about the title track, "The Joy."

Please tell me the personal story behind this song.

The song was birthed after coming out of a season a couple of years ago where I had a nervous breakdown. We were moving across the country, we were having a new baby, and the church that I was part of and on staff at was going through a church split. During all of that I had the flu and then pneumonia, and I spent 3 weeks in bed. Emotionally, mentally and spiritually I felt totally defeated. 

I read my Bible and sought after the Lord, and He brought to my attention Nehemiah 8:10: "the joy of the Lord is my strength." There's more to that, but it got me thinking about the concept of the joy of the Lord. For me personally, I didn't connect with it that well. I knew what it meant to have joy, and I was grateful for what Christ had done for me, and other times I knew I loved Him, but I wasn't feeling very joyful.

Then, I started to understand that the joy of the Lord was a gift for me, specifically in times of trial. It's an everyday thing we have access to. In Acts 16, after Paul and Silas heal the demon possessed girl, they were thrown in prison and flogged, and they didn't know if it was their last day of life. Yet while in prison, they started singing hymns to God, and they were full of worship and the joy of life and celebration. 

I thought "what did they have that I don't have?" They were filled with the same Holy Spirit who fills us. It's about perspective, and not our circumstances. The Word of God says we belong to another Kingdom. Paul says, "To live is Christ and to die is gain."

Which Bible verses connect to the message of the song?

Nehemiah 8:10 (NKJV): Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Romans 8:31 (NKJV): "What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

Philippians 4:7 (NKJV): And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:11-13 (NKJV): Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

What is the takeaway message?

Almost every song on The Joy is centered on The Joy of the Lord as our strength-- our identity in Christ and the victory that's won in Christ. Not that we shy away from the reality that living in a broken world affects all of us, but despite our hardships, we have access to a greater reality that fills our hearts with joy. 

We will face battles in life, but Jesus has won the war. We believe people are hungry for authentic joy, a joy that is not based on circumstances but on the fact that God is for us, so nothing can be against us.

The apostles were excited about heaven, but they understood the joy of the Lord being their strength. We understand there is a lot of hardship, and sometimes we say we can't wait for heaven. Even though we live in a broken world, God has plans for us on this side of eternity. God has some glimpses of heaven for us right now, though not His full glory or the fullness of heaven. We don't feel worthy or good enough, which is works-based, and we miss out on the benefits of being children of God. Christ's inheritance is our inheritance, and we are heirs of His Kingdom. 

The song came out of that place of singing that message. It's something supernatural. You can be experiencing the worst of the worst and you can get through hardships, like Paul and Silas. Musically, the song matches what I think about the joy of the Lord. Our hope is for people to hear that and have a paradigm shift. It's a reality that God offers us.

Lyrics:
I was born into a broken world
I've had ups and downs and crazy things 
They have occurred
Then suddenly I knew Ya
It felt like Hallelujah

Welcome to the joy
The Love that never ends
Where the grace of God renews again and again
Welcome to the joy
The Love that never ends
Where the grace of God renews again and again
Welcome to the joy

I was lost but now I'm found
But happiness ain't joy, just ask around
It's nothing circumstantial
It's something supernatural

The joy of the Lord is my strength
Nothing can take that away
The joy of the Lord is my strength
Nothing can take that away
Hallelujah

I applaud The Neverclaim for convicting me that my faith is not just for me and God and can be expressed in outward appreciation for what God has done for us. "The Joy" is an uplifting, catchy and encouraging song. A great reminder in this song is to remember: "I was lost but now I'm found, but happiness ain't joy, just ask around, it's nothing circumstantial, it's something supernatural."

This song encapsulates my testimony of how biblical messages in Christian music led me to Christ. A great outcome of memorizing the words of this song is that you are ultimately singing God's Word. Regardless of our circumstances, we need to truly be free in Christ and be happy and filled with joy, like Paul and Silas in prison.

One of the greatest witnesses that followers of Jesus can demonstrate to non-believers to show them the upside down Kingdom of God is to live out the words of this song and have that inner-joy, which is supernatural. That shows observers of Christians walking through valleys that they have the hope and joy of the love of God, living out His plans for them.

This is one of my favorite songs of the year. I can't get enough of the Biblical truth of the song, and I love when artists take Gods' Word from the Bible and turn it into a great and catchy song filled with truth. I sing this song to God with all of my heart and know that "The joy of the Lord is my strength, nothing can take that away." Amen to that! 

(Watch the music video here.)