How Great Thou Art” – Winter Reflections on a Hymn of Praise
Winter settles quietly over the hills as frost forms delicate lines along wooden fences and early dusk gathers around the edges of the fields. Christmas lights glow softly through the cold air and the final days of the year bring a calm that invites reflection and gratitude. In this peaceful season, familiar hymns rise with a deeper resonance, and Josh Turner’s recording of “How Great Thou Art” from his album I Serve a Savior becomes a gentle expression of winter praise.
Recorded and released in 2018, the hymn carries its long history into Turner’s rendition with a sense of humility. His deep baritone rests naturally inside the melody, shaping an atmosphere that feels steady and contemplative. Each verse reflects images that suit the winter landscape. The quiet grandeur of mountains. The stillness of forests. The clear brilliance of stars on long December nights. Under Turner’s voice, these scenes take on the clarity of cold air and the brightness of a snowfall lit by moonlight.
The recording becomes even more distinct through the presence of Sonya Isaacs, whose harmony lifts the hymn with a gentle, crystalline tone. Their voices blend in a way that feels both intimate and reverent, as if the song were being sung in a warm room while the world outside rests under winter frost. The collaboration grew naturally from Turner’s respect for the Isaacs family’s deep connection to gospel music. He sought a partner who could bring purity and sincerity to the hymn without overshadowing its simplicity. Sonya accepted the invitation because the hymn carried meaning within her own upbringing and because she recognized Turner’s genuine reverence for the project. Their shared grounding in faith allowed the duet to emerge with quiet unity and emotional clarity.
“How Great Thou Art” has been interpreted by many respected artists across generations. Elvis Presley, Carrie Underwood, Dolly Parton, Alan Jackson, and others have each shaped the hymn in ways that reflected their individual voices and eras. Turner’s version joins this lineage not by aiming for grandeur but by offering steadiness. It leans into warmth rather than power. It reflects familiarity rather than spectacle. It becomes a winter meditation on gratitude at a time of year when people often look inward and prepare for a new beginning.
As Christmas passes and the year draws to a close, the hymn carries a simple message that remains relevant. It reminds listeners of creation’s beauty, of faith that steadies the spirit, and of the quiet assurance found in moments of stillness. The song stands as a gentle companion to winter’s calm and as a reminder that praise often grows strongest in the quieter seasons.
A hymn shaped by reverence.
A harmony carried by warmth and light.
A winter reminder of gratitude as the new year approaches.