awake & free: Choosing Joy {Laura}

As a Christian, true, deep joy seems likes it should fill every part of my day. I desire to jump out of bed with an excitement for what is to come and walk with an extra bounce in my steps till my head hits the pillow at night. But that isn’t always reality, is it?

There are many reasons why we may not be joyful in a day. For example, whenever I have to do anything with my car, besides drive it, my joy seems to be zapped in an instant. Then there are more serious things that bring me down like hearing a close friend is diagnosed with cancer or knowing someone is going home for the summer to an abusive and alcoholic parent. This world is full of situations and people who can seem to steal our joy. However, we are commanded in scripture to be joyful.

“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed sprit dries up the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

“Rejoice always..” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth!” Psalm 100:1

But how? How does this become a reality in our lives? Let’s look at joy in Scripture. This is a sampling of things connected to experiencing joy:

Our faith developing—James 1:2-3

Righteousness and hope—Proverbs 10:28, Psalm 97:11

Salvation—1 Peter 1:8-9

Trusting in God—Romans 15:13

Repenting—Luke 15:7

Knowledge of God’s greatness—Isaiah 12:6, Psalm 138:5

God Presence—Psalm 16:11, Acts 2:28, 1 Chronicles 16:27

God’s Word—Jeremiah 15:16

The Holy Spirit—Galatians 5:22

Being in God’s presence, redemption, salvation—Isaiah 35

It seems all of these things point to joy being rooted in the Lord. It is not in our work, relationships, success, health, wealth, productivity, other’s approval, or how comfortable we are in our environment. It is found when we are in the Lord’s presence. It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, meaning it is experienced when we humbly surrender to allowing the Holy Spirit to act in us. It is found when our mind is full of the truth of God’s greatness and our eyes look to Him for strength.

There are many times in my life when I find myself actively fighting to choose joy in the Lord rather than let the world steal it from me. Most recently, I find myself in jeopardy of losing my joy to my husband leaving in August for 8 months. Just thinking about it makes me jealous for his time and sad when things like his job take the time from us. The anticipation of it in our conversations can lead both Dan and I into a somber mood. I dread the lonely nights when I’m just waiting for bedtime so I can interact with people the next day. I feel sorrowful when I think about doing anything fun when he won’t be able to join me. I do not want the morning to come when I know it will be the last one for awhile till I see him at the table reading and eating cereal again.

But what is the reality? Can I miss my husband? Yes. Can I desire for it to be different? I believe so. But can I let my joy sail away with his ship? No way. My joy is not in Dan’s presence. It is in the Lord’s. My joy is not in what Dan can do for me or with me. My joy is found in what the Lord has already done for me and will continue to do. My joy is rooted in Christ.

Part of me even feels guilty to remain joyful when he is leaving. I feel pressure from the world to be sad when he leaves, as if the genuineness of my love is connected to how sorrowful I am when he is gone. In reality, I am sure there will be days and periods of time when it is a real battle to remain joyful—I am still in the process of God refining me to be completely satisfied in Him. However, while my joy may ebb and flow, this truth will always remain: true joy comes only from knowing and experiencing God.

Now most of you will not be able to relate to my exact circumstance but I believe it is the same for all of us when we are struggling to choose joy. We must recognize the world’s lie and pressure telling us we cannot be joyful and replace it with the truth of God’s greatness. If joy is found in God’s presence, then I need to take the time to rest in Him.

In times when it is a struggle to keep our joy, I pray we would be led to feast even more on His Word and yearn for the time to rejoice in His presence. He has told us the secret to joy—to delight ourselves in Him and trust in Him—and now we are responsible to seek Him for the fulfillment of that promise. Let’s seek to receive true joy from the Lord.