In Thee is Gladness, ELW 867
1 In thee is gladness
amid all sadness,
Jesus, sunshine of my heart.
By thee are given
The gifts of heaven,
Thou the true redeemer art
Our souls thou wakest;
our bonds thou breakest.
Who trust thee surely has built securely
And stands forever: Alleluia!
Our hearts are pining
To see thy shining,
Dying or living,
To thee are cleaving;
naught can us sever: Alleluia!
2 Jesus is ours!
We fear no powers,
Not of earth or sin or death.
He sees and blesses
in worst distresses;
He can change them with a breath
Wherefore the story tell of his glory
with heart and voices;
all heav’n rejoices
in him forever: Alleluia!
We should for gladness, triumph o’er sadness,
love him and praise him
and still shall raise him
glad hymns forever: Alleluia!
Devotion
My friend Travis reminds me that Christians are not always the happiest people in the room—nor ought we be. We are not given faith in Christ as platform for a piety that forces smiles and requires peppy praise songs upon the disconsolate. Instead, we are graced with “bright sadness,” with community in whom sorrows are divided, joys multiplied, and with vision clear enough to see and suffer the violence and vagaries of life as lived.
If it will last and serve, our hymnody must reflect these qualities as well. Johann Lindemann’s hymn of jubilation is unafraid to admit sin, sadness, bondage, death and distress. He is also unwilling to allow these real powers the final word. Our gladness is hidden and revealed in Christ. Alleluia.
Prayer
God, our grace and glory, our hearts are pining to see thy shining. Be our gladness in sorrow, our shelter and shade when we are afflicted. Put your song on our lips, and your peace in our hearts, that we will fear no powers and always rejoice in you. Amen.