Alabaster Box

Lately I have been contemplating on the vital necessity in a Christians life for joy. For many of us, we assume that joy is a “hit or miss” emotion that is welcomed when available but ignored when we lack the inspiration. Having joy all the time is unrealistic. Or is it?

Through my course of intense reflections on the subject of joy, God revealed a lot to me about the foundations of joy. When we lack joy it can be assumed that there is no reason for joy. Ok, think for a moment about that statement. No reason for joy. Is that true for a person who was saved from everlasting hell by a gracious and merciful God and transfered to a kingdom of light and freedom all because of the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ? Um… no.

But the truth is we (and I include myself) often lose sight of that precious gift of truth and choose to focus on feelings (which are unstable) or/and circumstances (that usually don’t look bright) rather than God (who is always stable and bright!). It’s a joy killer every time. When the foundation of our joy is outward circumstances and fickle feelings rather than the stable promises, character, and great faithfulness of our God we are so foolish. And as a result we lack joy.

Listen to this excerpt from Tyler Kenney’s post on the Desiring God blog:

“God never intended for me to find my abiding joy in the circumstances of this life—“in this world you will have trouble”—but to hope in him and his salvation (Habakkuk 3:17-19; 1 Peter 1:13).

Nonetheless, I still let outward things determine my inward state, with the result that I have fickle joy, not Paul-like joy—the kind that would lead me to say, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.” (Phillipians 4:12)

So when this unhappy lack of sturdy joy leads me to pray (which it always does, and I thank God!), I don’t want to pray primarily for my circumstances to change. I want to pray first for my unbelieving heart to change.”

That basically says it all and sums up what I am trying to say. I want “sturdy joy”, a joy that does not allow outward circumstances define my inward state. I have so much to be joyful about! So, to follow the very wise advice above, I bow my knees and pray for my unbelieving heart to change and find everlasting joy in God alone.

“A joyful heart makes a cheerful face…” Proverbs 15:13

Similar Posts:

• A Joyful Perspective
• One Desire
• He loves me, He loves me not…
• the greater need

Filed under: Devotional Life, Reflections on May 27th, 2008