This is the first post in a series entitled Rhythms of Joy.
In this series we’ll explore why joy is important, how joy fits into suffering, what kills our joy and how to experience joy.
Joy, an Experience of God
Joy is important. It’s not just a nice to have part of our lives.
Joy is an experience of God’s nearness.
Joy is commanded.
Having joy is a mark of being a follower of Jesus Christ.
Our joy in God brings Him glory.
Joy can easily be confused with happiness and sometimes they intersect, resulting in good feelings. Happiness is tied to happenings, but joy is much deeper.
The difference between happiness and joy might be illustrated by the difference between a ship and a submarine in a sea storm. The status of the ship is totally dependent upon the waves and the condition of the sea.
Whereas a submarine can travel several hundred yards below a hurricane and not be affected.
Since God is the source and fullness of all joy, [1] it has an eternal quality which is deeper than the circumstances we encounter. Like a submarine, joy is deeper than the storm.
Eternal Void
God created us with an eternal void. [2]
Our hearts long to be satiated with a joy which can only come from God. He is the originator of joy. All earthy whiffs of gladness point to Him. Early in our lives we tend to experience joy much easier.
As we grow older, when the pains of life press in, we can lose the scent of joy and travel down long forsaken paths looking for lasting satisfaction.
Think about some things which brought you joy as a child.
Searching for Joy
As a child, I remember the joys of snow, Christmas, the community pool and hanging out with my grandfather, Pop. My grandparents lived next to me growing up.
On summer afternoons, much to my delight, Pop hit me pop balls in the field in between our two houses.
As I got older and began to feel some independence, I remember thinking how happy and satisfied I’d be when I was old enough to drive and had my own car. I worked and bought an F85 Deluxe Oldsmobile and it did satisfy me for a short while.
Then I began to think that if I had a girl friend to ride in the car with me, I’d be happy and satisfied. I met Annie and that satisfied me for a short while.
Then I began to think that if I could move away to college, I’d be happy and satisfied. I moved away to Columbia, SC and attended the University of South Carolina and felt satisfied was for a short while.
Then I began to think about how satisfied I’d be when I graduated college and began a life on my own. And when I did, I felt satisfied for a short while.
“There is a God shaped vacuum in the heart of each man which cannot be satisfied by any created thing, but only by God the creator made known by Jesus Christ.” Blaise Pascal
The endless search for joy continued.
Eventually, I would surrender my life to the God, the source of all joy. But it would be years before I fully understood that God Himself would satisfy the deep longings of my heart. As a young believer, I still tried to draw my happiness and sense of well being from my circumstances. And sometimes I still do.
I’m realizing now that the joy which exudes from God, satisfies the deep longing of my heart.
On top of that, the joy of God fills me with courage and strength.
A Matter of the Heart
It’s really a matter of our hearts, the well spring of our lives. [3]
The condition of our hearts determine our courage.
No wonder the French word for heart—”coeur” is where we get the word “courage”. The state of our heart determines whether we’re en-couraged or dis-couraged.
God’s joy fortified us with strength [4] and infuses us with courage. [5]
Joy is like a nectar for our hearts.
Since joy is more than a feeling, we can choose it, even during the hardest of times.
Joy is an awareness of the nearness of God.
In Your presence is fullness of joy (Psalms 16:11b).
In the next post, we’ll continue to explore the importance of joy in our lives when we look at the commands to be joyful.
From 1 to 10, where would you say your joy meter is at this moment?
Prayer
Lord, thank you for leading me to You. You are who I’ve been searching for all my life, though for years I didn’t know it. Only You satisfy me completely. I’m sorry for seeking my satisfaction in anything but You. Please show me quickly when I try and find lasting satisfaction apart from You. You are my Highest Joy. I praise You and rejoice in who You are. Amen
Journal Time
With your journal in hand, spend some time thinking about your own journey. Write about the deep longings in your heart? Document your search for joy. What have you tried other than God to satisfy your soul? How do you still depend upon your circumstances to feel okay? Write a prayer to God expressing your delight in Him.
[1] Psalms 16:11
[2] Ecclesiastes 3:11
[3] Proverbs 4:23
[4] Nehemiah 8:10b
[5] Hebrews 12:1-2
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Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God’s nearness in the midst of life’s adventures.
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