Finding Joy

What is JOY?  What is the process of finding JOY?

I get stuck on words.  In the first decade of my life as a Christian, I was stuck on the word GRACE.  I knew what it meant but the meaning wasn’t real to me, I couldn’t grasp the GRACE of God?  Then one day after a period of deep struggle I found that GRACE had made its way into my heart.   

The next decade of my Christian life I spent contemplating what the word GLORY meant?  Once again, I knew what the definition of the word was but the meaning had not been made manifest in my life.  What did it look like to live a life that GLORIFIED the Lord Jesus?  What was the GLORY of the Lord?  Then one day my heart was opened to this truth and the word GLORY turned from mystery to reality.  The next word was TRUTH for me.  I believe in absolute TRUTH.  Always have and always will but once again I had to chew on the reality of this word.

Now I am finding JOY.

I used to think I must be a little slow, that it takes me on average a decade to move a word from my brain to my heart.  I have come to be content with that.  God works in everyone at different rates and the sooner we all can realize that fact the better off we will all be.

 

 

JOY

JOY, noun

1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; that excitement of pleasurable feelings which is caused by success, good fortune, the gratification of desire or some good possessed, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exultation; exhilaration of spirits.

JOY is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good.

Bring heavenly balm to heal my country’s wounds,

JOY to my soul and transport to my lay.

2. Gayety; mirth; festivity.

The roofs with joy resound.

3. Happiness; felicity.

 

Starting with the definition of the word helps me, but only time and prayer can move the word JOY from my head into my heart.  I have been reading about what God has to say about JOY in the Bible and I thought I would share with you scripture from the book of Psalms.  God speaks of JOY in just about every book of the Bible so I know it must be important to Him.  He desires that we experience JOY in our daily lives.  Just look at what the Bible has to say about finding JOY in the book of Psalms!  (I know there are a lot of verses but when it came down to editing I couldn’t justify cutting even one.)

 

 

Finding Joy

 

Psalm 5:11

But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

 

Psalm 16:11

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

 

Psalm 20:5

May we shout for joy over your salvation, and in the name of our God set up our banners! May the Lord fulfill all your petitions!

 

Psalm 30:5

For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

 

Psalm 35:27

Let those who delight in my righteousness shout for joy and be glad and say evermore, “Great is the Lord, who delights in the welfare of his servant!”

 

Psalm 51:8

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

 

Psalm 51:12

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

 

 

If you want to get warm you must stand near the fire:

if you want to be wet you must get into the water.

If you want joy, power, peace, eternal life, you must get close to,

or even into, the thing that has them.

They are not a sort of prize which God could,

if He chose, just hand out to anyone.

– C.S. Lewis

 

 

Psalm 63:7

for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.

 

Psalm 68:3

But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

 

Psalm 71:23

My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

 

Psalm 84:2

My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for joy to the living God.

 

Psalm 113:9

He gives the barren woman a home, making her the joyous mother of children. Praise the Lord!

 

Psalm 119:111

Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.

 

Psalm 126:5

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

 

 

Finding JOY hasn’t been easy and I am not there yet.  I am learning at the feet of Jesus and what better way to learn is there?  What I have learned is that JOY is connected to God and can not be imagined without Him.  Feeling joyful is way more than happiness and is often felt after suffering.  HOPE is a part of the process too. After the death of my son, I began to realize that JOY and pain are also interwoven and connected. 

 

 

YOUR TURN…

 How are you experiencing JOY in your life?

 

Blessings,