A joy that defies words

When I was a kid, we sang a hymn in church that had this line: “Joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

It’s one of those lines that I’ve never forgotten. Sometimes when I think about the subject of joy that lyric comes to mind.

It is significant to me, in part, because I love the idea of joy. Also, because it expresses a tremendous truth: it is possible to experience a joy in God that is so profound, so real and so meaningful that it is beyond our ability to put into words.

When I was an adult, I discovered that the memorable line from the old hymn was actually based on a passage of scripture, 1 Peter 1:8.

 "…Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory…”