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"Poison in the Lights" by Mike Janzen: When the Spotlight Costs More Than You Think


What if the things the world calls success are actually taking something from you?

(by Jasper Tan) Pianist and composer Mike Janzen wrote “Poison in the Lights” after being moved by the teaching of Francis Chan. They brought in the extraordinary guitar work of Joey Landreth to give the song extra weight and texture. The message of the song lands somewhere between a warning and an invitation.

Mike Janzen - Poison in the Lights“There’s a poison in these lights.” It’s a striking image, but an honest one. The stage — whether literal or the version most of us perform daily (through social media, career, and reputation) can quietly erode something real. “There’s a venom in these veins, clotting love as it destroys, masking feelings, stealing voice.” This kind of visibility affects who we are, the way we behave, our faith, our motivation, and so many other parts of our lives. It has a cost that rarely shows up on the invoice.

What Mike points to is the opposite… “Live the quiet life, hidden deep inside — when no one sees it, live the quiet life.” Not obscurity for its own sake, but the kind of life Jesus described in Matthew 6:6: “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” God sees what no audience ever will — and that is enough.

The rewards of hiddenness aren’t loud. They’re discovered, not announced. “Find the place where the joy will hide.” Think about that for a moment. Joy isn’t always where the crowd is pointing. Resist the pull of the glare, and you might find something steadier and more eternal waiting behind it.
Take a moment today to listen to this song with Joey Landreth’s guitar doing what words can’t. “Gotta sit back, take the long track, find my way to the quiet life.”

(Related scripture: Matthew 6:6; 1 Thessalonians 4:11; Proverbs 11:2)

Background:

This bluesy vibey song was inspired by Francis Chan and features the other-worldly guitar playing of Joey Landreth. The song's words talk about how the stage can be toxic at times and how living a content life has some hidden joy waiting for us.

Release date: June 4, 2026

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