A Constant Joy

Joy - It's so odd that such a small word can mean such big things...and require so much work! As the second fruit of the spirit I would say that having joy is pretty important. How are we to proclaim God if we are known as a mopey and downtrodden? What does that say about us and our mentality? What is there to mope about anyways? Yes, we have bad days...but who doesn't? At the end of the day it is still Christ that reigns in heaven and He has ultimate authority over everything that lives, breathes, and moves...or anything that doesn't live, breath, or move for that matter. 

Joy has been something that we don't often think about...it's so easy to be joyful when things go right...when we hang out with our best friends who understand us and make us laugh...or when we aren't stressed out. But what about the other times? The times when bad memories crowd in...the guilt creeps up...when we have to be nice to people who probably don't deserve it...when we just have bad days that get worse. What about those days?

Those days don't deserve any less joy than the good days. No where in the Bible does it ever say anything about "Just be joyful on the good days and the bad days you get a free pass to be anything but full of joy." No, instead we are to praise the Lord through everything and every circumstance. Yes, it's hard...I think we all know that. But something that has always set apart Christians from the rest of people is their joy and faithfulness to God even through difficult and horrible situations.

Everyone knows how easy it is to praise and glorify God when everything goes right...so then the ultimate test is to learn to praise and be joyful when things *don't* go right. That is something I'm focusing on right now...no, things don't always go as planned...they're not perfect a lot of times...but God is a greater Savior than any of my problems and He knows exactly what He's doing in my life. He is building me up to something much bigger then I'll ever see. One of that growing characteristics is a constant joy in Him...a joy that says "no matter what, I'm going to be happy and praise God because nothing else...nothing else matters." 

Job is a typical guy to bring up in subjects like this...he lost everything...yes, we could say he was probably having a pretty bad day with not a lot that was going right...but he never lost his faith in his God...he never gave up on Him...he remained quiet and content with his Father...he was joyful. Now joyful doesn't always mean jumping around and screaming out of joy. That can be a little extreme. 

I know from experience that joy can be contained...it isn't called for in extreme measures constantly...it's not always the time or the place. But you can have a quiet inward joy. One that still shows itself glowing deep within you. If you have joy you can't help but show it. It won't be as obvious as a flashing neon sign...but if you have it people will notice. So many Christians have been asked over the years what on earth they have that gives them such peace and joy through their lives...because it really is that obvious! 

If you have Christ living within you and in your life there isn't a single chance that people won't notice. The life of the Christian is an active life. It's not hiding Christ away somewhere deep inside...but it's planting those seeds within you that it sprouts and pours out of you into the lives of others. We need to learn to nurture those seeds so that we can be that influence to others. The "sunshine" and "water" to those seeds are found in the reading of the Scripture (and Law) as well as regularly attending a solid church that preaches the true Word of God and the sacraments.

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!" Galatians 5:22-23

"The Lord is my strength and shield. I trust him with all my heart. He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy. I burst out in songs of thanksgiving." Psalm 28:7

"Light shines on the godly, and joy on those whose hearts are right. May all who are godly rejoice in the Lord and praise his holy name!" Psalm 97:11-12

"Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again - rejoice!" Philippians 4:4