Teddy is outwardly friendly and easy to talk to. This afternoon, at the drive through window we struck up a conversation. I mentioned I was a blogger and handed him my card. He asked what my blog is about. I told him I write about finding joy in our journeys. He smiled and said he was my target audience. When he handed me the chicken and rice soup, he smiled and said he’d be reading my blog tonight. It would give him something to do.
Teddy, this one’s for you.
Why do we need joy? We’ve been created with cravings which must be satisfied. These deep longings for completeness are like a ravenous hunger which won’t ease up until we have our fill.[1][2] This internal cavern will only be satisfied by Joy.
But what is Joy and how do we find it? First, we must realize lasting joy can’t be found in circumstances. Consider a person who has all the success, fame, riches and appeal the world has to offer. Wouldn’t that person have joy? History is dotted with folks who had it all but were utterly empty. Michael Jackson, Marilyn Monroe, Earnest Hemmingway and Howard Hughes were just a few. Solomon wrote about the empty pursuit of worldly satisfaction in Ecclesiastes chapter 2. Happy circumstances will not fulfill our deep longings.
There are strange verses in the Bible which say just the opposite. James[3] and Peter[4] wrote of a joy associated with trials and difficulties. How could this be? Both reveal that once we stop searching for joy in this broken world; once we give up chasing the wind, we’re in position to find Everlasting Joy.
God spoke though the prophet Jeremiah, “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, The fountain of living waters, To hew for themselves cisterns, Broken cisterns That can hold no water.”[5]
Living water, to satisfy our deepest thirst, can be found in God’s nearness. God Himself is the source of all Joy.[6]
But what if life is really hard? What if we’ve said I’ll be okay unless this happens and then it does? What if there’s illness, separation, poverty and loneliness? Where’s the joy then?
There’s a greater story going on, an eternal story which can chase away every tear. Our lives are so short, but eternal Joy can start today. We can’t live good enough lives to be reconciled to God. Going to church, being nice won’t cut it.
Jesus invites us, “Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me. For all that I require of you will be pleasant and easy to bear.” (Matthew 11:28-30 TPT)
Teddy, you told me you hadn’t been to church in years and you said you didn’t know why. Perhaps you’ve been disillusioned. Maybe life is hard. I’d love to hear about your journey. We didn’t have much time in the drive through line.
Perhaps you’d say as I did, “I need to clean up my life before I can begin a relationship with God.”
Must we take a bath before we take a shower? God wants us just as we are. He’s waiting to give us all Everlasting Joy, even in the midst of life’s sadness.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2nd Corinthians 5:21)
Teddy, how do you find Joy in your Journey? Only one way. Being with the One who created the longing in you in the first place. I hope we can talk more.
Joy is a person.
[1] Ecclesiastes 3:11
[2] Psalm 16:11b
[3] James 1:2-4
[4] I Peter 1:6-8
[5] Jeremiah 2:13 (NASB)
[6] Psalm 16:11b
Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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