Tauren Wells – Joy In The Morning

American Christian pop and rock artist Tauren Wells began his career in 2004.  He is currently a lead pastor in Joel Olsteen’s Lakewood Church.  He released four albums and three EP’s, including:

• Undefeated (EP, 2016)
• Hills and Valleys (2017)
• Conocido (EP, 2019)
• Citizen of Heaven (2020)
• Citizen of Heaven (Live) (2021)
• Joy in the Morning (2022)
• Take It All Back EP (2023)

Wells won five GMA Dove Awards, including  New Artist of the Year (2017), Contemporary Christian Artist of the Year (2020), Pop/Contemporary Album of the Year (Citizen of Heaven, 2020), Pop/Contemporary Recorded Song of the Year (Famous For (I Believe), 2021), and Short Form Video of the Year (Performance) (fake it, 2022)

Also, check out my reviews of God’s Not Done With You, Famous For (I Believe), Hills and Valleys and Known.

Side Note: Elevation Worship is not part of the original version.  The song voted on by Tauren Wells & Elevation Worship is a remix.  Therefore, as an originalist who prioritizes the original version when a remix doesn’t deviate lyrically, I decided to review the original version of this song.

Note to new users: This is a different kind of review site!  Read About the Berean Test and Evaluation Criteria prior to reading this review.

1. What message does the song communicate?

Despite not knowing what the future holds, we can trust God in that all things are for our good.  We see more and more of the “why” as our lives unfold.  Wells’ encourages us to keep trusting in God through the process

Side Note: To those who are annoyed by en masse repetition “There will be joy in the morning” shows up nine times in Chorus (2), and the combined phrases “If it’s not good, then He’s not done” and “No, He’s not done with it yet” shows up seven times, with slightly varying filler.

Score: 10/10

2. How much of the lyrics line up with Scripture?

It lines up fine.

Lyrics posted with permission.*

[Verse 1]

Everything happens for a reason, but you don’t know what you don’t know

Although all events are ultimately predestined as part of God’s plan for humanity (Proverbs 16:4, Matthew 22:14, John 6:44, John 15:16, Acts 13:48, Romans 8:28-30, Romans 9:19-33, Galatians 1:15, Ephesians 1:4-5, Ephesians 1:11, Ephesians 2:8-9, 2 Timothy 1:9, 1 Peter 1:2, and Revelation 13:8); However, we do not know all things as God does (1 Corinthians 2:11).

And you’ll never have peace if you don’t let go of tomorrow

For we do not know what tomorrow will bring (James 4:13-14).

‘Cause it ain’t even faith till your plan falls apart but you still choose to follow, uh

To follow and trust God, we must deny ourselves (Matthew 16:24-25 and Luke 14:27).

If it doesn’t make sense right now, it will when it’s over

Hindsight is 20/20 (1 Corinthians 13:12).

[Chorus (1)]

There will be joy in the morning

References the tail end of Psalm 30:1-5, which fits within Wells’ theme of trusting God while not knowing the future.

There will be joy in the morning

Repeats line 1.

[Verse 2]

Giving in to your feelings is like drowning in the shadows

Most likely a reference to Matthew 14:30-33, though with shadows used as a metaphor that ties in with Proverbs 4:19.

Oh, you gotta keep believing even in the middle of the unknown
‘Cause grace will be there when you come to the end of your rope and you let go (Oh)
It may feel like you’re goin’ down now, but the story isn’t over (Oh)

See Verse 1, lines 3 and 4.  Also, the background singers call out to Casper the friendly ghost.

[Chorus (2)]

There will be joy in the morning
There will be joy in the morning (Oh), ayy

Repeats Chorus (1) line 1, with another Casper call and the stereotypical Canadian line included.

If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet

According to 1 Timothy 4:4, God created all things for good, and according to Proverbs 16:4, the evil that occurs also has a purpose that will bring about an ultimate good.

There will be joy in the morning (Woo!)
There will be joy (Joy) in the morning, ayy
There will be joy (Joy) in the morning (Oh), oh
If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet (Hold on till the morning)
There will be joy (Joy) in the morning
Hey, yeah
If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet (Hold on till the morning), no
If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet (Hold on till the morning), na-na-na
If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet (Hold on till the morning), yeah, hey
If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet
There will be joy (Joy) in the morning (Oh, we believe, we believe)
(Hold on till the morning)
There will be joy (Joy) in the morning (Oh, ayy, woo!)
(Hold on till the morning)
If it’s not good, then He’s not done
No, He’s not done with it yet
There will be joy in the morning

All of these are differing repeats of lines 1-4 and fillers either already addressed or not worth discussing.

[Outro]

There will be joy in the morning
There will be joy in the morning

Repeats Chorus (1).

Score: 10/10

3. How would an outsider interpret the song?

The phrase “there will be joy in the morning” is a common phrase heard by unbelievers that is associated with Christianity.  They will conclude that Wells is encouraging Christians to keep the faith because God’s plans are good and will make sense later, not now.  This is a major turn-off because unbelievers know the dangers of blind faith and will seek to avoid it.

Score: 6/10

4. What does this song glorify?

It glorifies God because this song encourages us to place our faith in Him regardless of our circumstances.

Score: 10/10

Closing Comments

Tauren Wells’ Joy In The Morning is a good song for Christians.  It compels us to seek and trust Him no matter what happens to us, bringing Him glory.  While unbelievers should piece this together, they will probably not trust Him blindly and look for personal evidence after the fact.

Though more repetitious than my liking, this song is suitable for corporate worship.  Seeker-sensitive churches should consider a different song.

Final Score: 9/10

Artist Info

Track: Joy In The Morning (listen to the song)

Artist: Tauren Wells

Album: Joy In The Morning

Genre: Pop

Release Year: 2022

Duration: 3:37

Agree?  Disagree?  Don’t be shy or have a cow!  Calmly and politely state your case in a comment, below.

*Copyright © 2022 Music by Elevation Worship Publishing (BMI) / Be Essential Songs (BMI) / CrucialWorks Entertainment (BMI) (admin at EssentialMusicPublishing.com). All rights reserved. Used by permission.