Joy

Happiness-it is the one thing that is constantly being sought for. The whole world is in search of one thing in particular. That one thing is happiness. It seems like after all these years of searching we'd see the whole world happy, right? No. Now why is that? It is because happiness is fleeting. It all depends on our surroundings-what is going on around us. Joy is different. Joy comes from God. Now if joy comes from God, why are so many Christians depressed and unhappy? There are several reasons: I think the number one reason for our lack of joy in the world today is selfishness. Even Christians struggle with this. The world is always telling us, everywhere we look we see it: The only way to be happy & have joy is to make ourselves happy, but as Christians we need to realize that in order to be truly happy and to have real joy, we need to understand the source of joy. So, the all important question: What is the source of joy? Christ! When a person is living for Christ, His service is their greatest joy. Did you catch that? When a person-when you are living for Christ-His service is your greatest joy. I have a couple examples to share with you: Point number 1 is Constant connection with Christ; remembering that He is truly your forever friend, and that He is there for you-always. Whatever hard time you are going through, He is going through it with you. Pray that you will live for Him, that you'll be willing to sacrifice anything and everything for him, and pray for true joy. Psalms 16:11 " Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore." We need to remember that trails are just "stepping stones" in this life. They help us grow-help us mature. Think back to when you were learning to write. It was HARD work wasn't it? It was very frustrating! Can still be frustrating sometimes! Sometimes you wondered why you had to learn to write-I mean, what valid reason could anyone come up with that made them think that you needed to know how to write in order to live life? Whoever invented writing was...well-nuts!! But then, you learned how to write your name. You were sooooo happy, you wanted everyone to see that you knew how to write your name! Trails are like that! They're frustrating, but once you allow God to walk with you through them-once you can accept that you don't need to know "why"-and with God's help you climb the mountain, you are so happy! James 1:2 "Count it all joy when you fall into diverse temptations. Knowing this that the trying of your faith worketh patience. The Bible tells us that we are blessed when people hate us and avoid us because of our desicion to follow Christ. Luke 6:23 "Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets." Remember that we are not here to live life for ourselves Remember that the troubles and heartaches of earth are only temporary. Remember that Jesus is coming again to take us home with him. John 16 Jesus was talking to His disciples about how he was to go back to heaven-but how he would return. Verses 19 through 20 read "Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said unto them, Do ye inquire among yourselves of that I said, A little while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall see me? Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy." then skipping down to verse 22 "And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you." As Christians, our hope that the Lord is going to return should give us joy that no one can take from us, and also just knowing that we're doing the Lord's work, and trusting that He'll take care of us. There's a story in the Bible that really illustrates this point. You can turn to Acts chapter 16 if you want to read along but I'm just going to paraphrase. Paul and Silas were in this city working for the Lord. They were working miracles in Jesus' name and testifying of God's greatness and the devil always has to stir things up when the Lord's work is being done, so the people of the city got in a big uproar, and Paul & Silas were thrown in prison. They could've been tempted to doubt God then, or at least complain. Something like "Lord, why did you do this to us? We were doing your work!" but I'm sure they remembered how when Jesus was on earth he had said "Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also." So there they were, bound up in prison, but instead of bemoaning their fate, they were praying and praising the Lord! I would say that is a good example of joy that no man can take away. We probably all know the rest of the story, how there was a big earthquake that shook so hard the doors were opened and all the chains of the prisoner's were loosened and how it woke the the keeper of the prison up, of course, it'd be awfully hard to sleep through that. Anyway, the keeper sees that the doors are open and he is about to commit suicide thinking that all his prisoners had escaped when he hears the voice of Paul, shouting out to him "Do thyself no harm: for we are all here." He was amazed-and scared.. Verses 29-34 of chapter 16 say "Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas. And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved?And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house." What a testimony we can be if we'll only sacrifice ourselves to do God's will, trust that it is His will, and are content and happy with what he has chosen for us! The second way to have joy is to have that famous attitude of gratitude. Do you deserve all the blessings the Lord has given you? Really, do you even deserve anything He has given? No. But by His grace He has given us so many things we don't deserve just because He loves us. When you are having a hard time, think about all the good things going on. If you can't think of anything, check your pulse. Also, if you can't be content with what you have received, be thankful for what you have escaped.
(to be continued, someday)