MANIFESTING THE JOY OF THE LORD
God commands us to be joyful always (I Thessalonians 5:16). I Peter 1:8 (NASB) says: “though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. Even when we encounter various trials, James (1:2) tells us to “Count it all joy.”
The fact is that God intends every one of His children to manifest the joy of the Lord. So, what is the definition of joy? Joy is the sense of well-being within our soul, produced by the Holy Spirit, that comes from knowing we belong to Jesus Christ. Happiness is based on circumstances. Joy is present despite circumstances. Happiness results from feelings I have when earthly things and circumstances are favorable. Joy flows from the reservoir of hope inside you that sustains you even when we are facing trials and difficulties because we view life from a heavenly perspective.
The experience of true joy doesn’t have the slightest connection to your current circumstances, your personality type, or how you happen to be feeling. It isn’t your joy at all; you can’t manufacture it, speak it into existence, or stir up your emotions. However, the good news is that this joy belongs to God and He wants to share it with you.
Yet if we are honest, most of us must admit that life is so often anything but joyful. It often seems that life is tedious and frequently filled with anxiety, tension, and conflict. So, what is it that blocks joy in our lives? What are the kill-joys that suck the life out of our Christianity and kill off our joy?
One of the most common joy killers is sin in our lives or sinful attitudes in our heart. Christian joy is essentially the enjoyment of God’s presence that results from communion with Him. Sin obviously breaks that fellowship and the enjoyment of His presence. Read about David’s misery and problems in Psalm 32:3-4 when, for a year, he refused to confess his sin of adultery with Bathsheba. Also, note the consequences that occurred even after David repented of his sin (2 Samuel 12:9-14). When David repented, we see repeatedly his restoration of joy. In Psalm 51, David pleads with God to restore to him the joy of Thy salvation (vs.12) and to make him hear joy and gladness (vs. 8). At the conclusion of Psalm 32:11, David celebrates his forgiveness: “Be glad in the Lord and rejoice you righteous ones, and shout for joy all you who are upright in heart.”
Another joy-killer is that sneaky thief who slides into your thoughts and reminds you of something from the past (that tragedy, the failed opportunity, that previous marriage, or that wrong choice) that demoralized you, even though it is over and done with and fully forgiven. It’s like a weight that holds us down from enjoying the abundant life that God has made available. Paul exhorts us forget “what lies behind and press on toward the goal for the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14).
An additional joy-killer may take the form of conjuring up fears regarding something in the future, even though less that 10% of what we fear ever comes to pass. Will I lose my job? Will the stock market crash? Will I get cancer or some terminal illness? Jesus said, “Therefore do not be anxious for tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” Matthew 6:34).
Other joy killers include a lone ranger mentality that views ourself as a rugged individualist serving alone in the cause of Christ, disconnected from any sense of real dependence on others. Further joy-killers may include majoring on the minors, hyper-activity, legalism, misplaced confidence, experiencing trials of faith, and poor self-image.
So, what is the secret of having and keeping joy in your heart? Well, you will have to check out next week’s blog for the answer, but for now, remember that joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:23) and through Him, we are empowered to rejoice even during trials.
