JOY

There are countless definitions for the word “joy”. Probably just as many as there are people on this planet. I don't know the recent updates, but I'm guessing that's around a few billion different definitions for one word. That's a lot of different interpretations of the same thing that everyone seems to be searching after. Something that everyone is analyzing and searching for, making medicines and new methods to try to reach: joy.

My experience with joy has not always been the most consistent. In my life, and especially my walk with the Lord; joy has been somewhat of a stretch to reach and even bigger stretch to hold onto. Growing up and even recently, I let circumstance define my joy. If things were going good and if I thought that my needs were being met; I would be joyful. If things were bad and in the most challenging times, my joy would be next to nonexistent. Now to most people, that statement would sound normal and quite acceptable. You're joyful when your life is going exactly how you want it to and you're getting what you think you deserve, and you're not joyful when the tables are turned. That's our right as people, right? Wrong. That is not how we are supposed to allow ourselves to operate when we are walking with Jesus.

A good place to look for a correct perspective on joy is from the Bible. The Bible says in Nehemiah 8:10 that, “The joy of the Lord is your strength”. It also says in Proverbs 17:22 that, “A joyful heart is good medicine”. If the joy of the Lord is truly our strength, then it should not waiver because God's joy doesn't waiver due to circumstance. Our joy should be driven out of the revelation of Jesus' love and devotion to us; which doesn't ever change either. The Bible makes it very clear that God is as consistent as they come. He is “the same yesterday, today- and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8). God's love for us doesn't change, and once we are saved there is no taking us out of His hand. That is enough reason to be joyful forever! We are saved from an eternity separated from the Creator of the universe!! We should be jumping with joy, and exploding with praise. Now, I am not saying that we are demanded to be happy robots without emotions; there is a proper time for grieving and weeping, for celebration and dancing. These are all normal, good things; but joy of the Lord is sustained through it all once we truly have it.

Since joy looks different for each person, each way of finding joy will be different even though it is all from the Lord. God is personal and has created us all uniquely, wanting an intimate relationship beyond comparison with each of us. This means that He is desiring to walk us into joy in a way that is personal and unique to us. For me and my walk with the Lord, He has been showing me a few different ways that I find joy and excitement with Him. Often times it is through writing and listening to worship music. Also, He has shown me that for myself, joy looks a lot like being child-like. This is amazing because we are called to have child-like faith! This has looked like randomly dancing, going on adventures with friends, and being undone by the absolute beauty of the Lord's creation here in Hawaii. I am in a season where the Lord is showing me what true joy looks and feels like, and how to sustain it through Him. I am so thankful that God loves me so much that He finds joy doing this for me!

I would encourage everyone to ask the Lord if you truly have His joy; because if you don't you are missing out on something rather incredible. The next step after that might look like you figuring out how you find that joy in the Lord, and what child-like things you might want to step into. This is different for everyone, but should not be overlooked. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit and a blessing from the Lord, but it is also a spiritual discipline. We are called to find our joy from the Lord and His goodness. I have had to realize that it is not my choice to take a pass on that joy from the Lord. We cannot let circumstance define how I allow God to move in my life.

JOY: The emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; (dictionary.com)