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 |