I got the joy

Today I am inspired to expound upon the wonderful qualities of joy. It is far more powerful and fulfilling than any form of happiness we can achieve but when the two are coupled together things are brighter than ever. You see, the Lord provides his servants with joy. This is a promise. However, the promise is often misconstrued to fit what society tells us joy is. Joy becomes the number of friends we have, the relationship with our girlfriend or spouse, our financial security, our success, or even our spiritual growth. All of these things are wonderful but God tells us that the joy we experience as his followers is much more deep and complex than that. “For the joy of the Lord is my strength!” The apostles praised God with joy at their persecution. Paul praised the Lord for his “thorn” after being told that the Lord would not take it from him. Nothing about these stories implies that joy includes a smile and a pat on the back. No, joy is consistent in the good and the bad.

      Joy? During finals week? Sounds a bit absurd I know, especially since I am only an hour away from my first final of the day. My point to this is that I am still filled with the joy of the Lord. The joy I have in this moment is in no way dependent on me. If it were then I would be one sad kid. God is constant. No matter what I can count on him to be who he is. He is love, sacrifice, justice, mercy, grace, and power! He is so wonderful and he alone contains the key to my salvation. By keeping my eyes on what is eternal there is no way I can lose that joy. For my eternal future is only bright!

      I love the Newsboys version of “Turn your eyes upon Jesus”. The chorus goes like this, “and the things of this world will grow strangely dim in the light of his glory and grace!” That is so powerful to me! It is indeed the epitome of God given joy. No matter what happens. Death nor life nor angels nor powers, present things nor things of the future, height nor depth, nor any created thing, can ever separate me from his strong love! That is a consistent joy in all scenarios. That is the same joy that Paul felt in the midst of a horrible “thorn in his side”. The same joy Peter and Paul proclaimed after being flogged for preaching the gospel. For the Joy of the Lord is eternal and cannot be shaken. When you finally see its light, the things of this earth will indeed go strangely dim!

Remember, no matter what attacks you, the joy of the Lord is the same. As a Christian one of our greatest privileges is the joy we have knowing God will win and indeed that he already has. Our joy is the solid rock whereas the pleasures of this world are the sinking sand. Stand on that rock which cannot be shaken!

Psalm 16:8 – I have set the Lord before me always, because he is at my right hand I will not be shaken!