John desires for his music to portray the idea of coming to maturity in various ways. Some of his songs serve as invitations to his listeners to reflect on their spiritual journey and pursuit of Christ. Other songs were written to express his home, lifestyle, family, and friends. John explains that when he writes songs, he shares his life story. “Be Not Far From Here” reveals God’s ever-present sovereignty and our dependence on Him.

This beautiful song starts with two lines that refer to Christ as our living water.

With simple words I try to tell

You are the water, I’m the well

From “Be Not Far From Here” by John Van Deusen

John’s lyrics portray our utter dependence on Christ. Nothing else in the world will satisfy our deepest needs and desires. While we are constantly surrounded by the temptations of this world, Christ knows and fulfills all our needs.

‘Cause you are the only one for me

The only one I need

The only one

From “Be Not Far From Here” by John Van Deusen

Just as the song begins with a reference to Christ as our living water, it ends with those same two lines.

With simple words I try to tell

You are the water, I’m the well

From “Be Not Far From Here” by John Van Deusen

Christ’s presence empowers us to be His vessels in the world around us. His promises never fail, and He is more than enough.

“but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life” (John 4:14).

“Be Not Far From Here” reminds us of God’s goodness and faithfulness in our lives. When the world around us seems to fall apart, Christ is our steady constant. Through both the highs and lows, may we seek Him and trust Him to satisfy all our needs.

Listen to “Be Not Far From Here” below:

Here are this week’s top songs on the MEL:

	Artist	Song
1	John Van Deusen	Be Not Far From Here
2	Naomi Raine	Not Ready
3	Switchfoot	Youth of the Young
4	Joshua Luke Smith	Hold Me Back
5	Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors	Dance With Everybody (w/ The National Parks)
6	Trip Lee	Homecoming
7	John Mark McMillan	Has It Been You
8	Wande	They Didn’t Know II
9	Social Club Misfits	Who That Is
10	Judah & The Lion	Take A Walk
11	Colorvault	So Sure
12	Jervis Campbell	Hold Me Together
13	Hannah Honey	Love U Need
14	Steven Malcolm	Ain’t Playin (ft. Social Club Misfits)
15	LJ the Messenger	Praise
16	Hulvey	Beautiful
17	Evvie McKinney	Church
18	Peabod	Alive
19	Henrik	Real Love
20	Manafest	Teardrops
21	Die-rek	Year of Redemption
22	Half * Alive	Everything Machine
23	TylerhatesLife	Keyboard Warriors
24	Thunderstorm Artis	Stronger
25	Madison Ryann Ward	Prodigal
26	Eikon	Your Love Is
27	Limoblaze	Jireh
28	Blanca	New Day
29	Wood Drake Sessions	I See A King (w/Liz Vice)
30	Marcus Rogers	God Is Good
31	The Apartment	Cold Outside (w/ Dante Bowe)
32	Dante Bowe	Real Kind of Love
33	Aaron Cole	Hands
34	Ella Drablos	Evergreen
35	Jordy Searcy	Daylight
36	Tina Boonstra	Martha
37	Caedmon’s Call	Hope to Carry On (2022)
38	Jervis Campbell	Let’s Go Home
39	Chastity	Love So Sweet (w/ Porsha Love)
40	Evvie McKinney	But God
41	Cortes	Say I
42	Judah & The Lion	Happy Life
43	Tenielle Neda	Same Side
44	Young Oceans	This Wild Earth (w/Josh Garrels)
45	Ben Rector	Heroes
46	1K Phew	New Church
47	Madison Cunningham	Anywhere
48	Lathan Warlick	Look Up to the Sky (w/ Blessing Offor)
49	Jessamyn Day	Highways
50	WHATUPRG	Kids
51	Trulah	Canvas
52	FRVR Free	Beautiful Day!
53	Colorvault	Shall Be Forever
54	Needtobreathe	Talk of The Town
55	Apollo LTD	Soul Worth Saving
56	Needtobreathe	Talk of The Town (acoustic)
57	Sajan Nauriyal	Morning Always Comes
58	Mat Kearney	Odds
59	BrvndonP	Fear of Heights
60	Carly Bannister	Same Team
61	The New Respects	Don’t Worry
62	Sansonne	In My Head
63	John Van Deusen	You Tell Me
64	Thunderstorm Artis	Take Me to the Fire
65	Riley Clemons	Headspace
66	Thi’sl	Strange Things
67	Kurtis Hoppie	Rooftops
68	Kings Kaleidoscope	Joy
69	Ben Rector	We Will Never Be This Young Again
70	Canon	Wrist (w/ Poetics)
71	Soulbox	Nobody Like You
72	Ashley Cleveland	Keep Me Runnin’
73	Hannah Honey	goandtell
74	Half * Alive	Move Me
75	Switchfoot	The Hard Way
76	Wood Drake Sessions	Oh How Good to Be Together (w/ Sandra McCracken)
77	Hulvey	Have Me
78	Andy Mineo	Working On It
79	Matthew Parker	Roses
80	Gable Price and Friends	I Need You
81	Ross King	Villian
82	Ross King	Things That I’m Afraid Of
83	Dawson Hollow	Seabird
84	Natalie Bergman	Keep Those Teardrops From Falling
85	Roy Tosh	Gotta Wait
86	Zauntee	Die For You
87	Austin French	Good Feeling
88	Joshua Micah	Let the Light In (w/ Owl City)
89	KB	King Jesus (w/ nobigdyl.)
90	Hollyn	Bird’s Eye View
91	Aryn Michelle	Pariah
92	Twenty One Pilots	Good Day
93	Darla Baltazar	Ain’t The First Time
94	JOHNNYSWIM	Holla Holla Holla
95	Switch	This Is The Love
96	LJ the Messenger	Good-n-Bad
97	Social Club Misfits	Got What You Need (w/ Jordan Feliz)
98	Mat Kearney	Save Me
99	Taylor Leonhardt	Happy or Whatever
100	Twenty One Pilots	The Outside