Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for your joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. (2 Corinthians 1:24)
The other day a grey cloud settled over my heart. It blew in suddenly and lingered for a while. My wife confirmed my outward mood matched my inward discouragement. She said it seemed as if someone from the outside had thrown a wet blanket on my heart to try and steal my joy. As I shuffled around, what she said resonated, but I had nothing inside to fight it.
Frankly, the last thing I wanted to do was read scripture, but I knew I needed truth. I asked God to guide me and looked at some verses on joy.
As I read, I was struck by how much Paul’s joy seemed to be tied to how others were doing.
He wrote to the Corinthians that he was working for their joy, having confidence that the joy he was experiencing would be their joy.
And to the Philippians, Paul wrote that he’d continue in the fight for their progress and joy in the faith. Paul was living out Jesus’ example of pouring himself out as a sacrifice for us.
Amazingly, by entrusting our own interests to God, we’re free to be about the interests of others, including fighting for their joy. And as we fight for the joy of others, our joy overflows.
As I read what Paul wrote in Philippians 2 about considering others interest above our own, a spark of joy flicked in my heart. I understood what had killed my joy. Unaware of the shift in my heart, I had taken up the familiar position of focusing on my own desires for ease of circumstances and comfort. My intense concern for me had zapped my joy.
Kill Joy – The fastest way to kill your joy is to focus on you. Joy flows when we begin to work on behalf of others.
Lord, thank you for the barometer you built into my heart that lets me know when the joyful flow of your presence has been clogged. Thank you that your joy flows when we turn to others. Remind me that you have asked me to deny myself and follow you. You’re who I’ve been searching for all my life. You’re my Joy, my Exceeding Great Reward.
I love you, Jesus.
[1] 2nd Corinthians 1:24 – 2:3
[2] Philippians 1:25