for the day when most of your problems are gone? When you enter a better season
that’s much more suitable for your “happiness” factor? If you’re like me, for a
long time I believed “I’ll be filled with more joy when…” and I had all kinds of
ways to complete that line.
This, however, I’ve learned and am still
learning:
wrong. It’s totally AWESOME when they happen at the same time. But when there’s
a deep-rooted sadness over a situation we can’t fix, joy feels impossible. Yet,
Paul writes in Philippians 4:4 to “rejoice always.”He must be living the
“blessed” life. Right? No, he is writing these words in prison, and to further
the matter, he later speaks of himself in 2 Corinthians as being “sorrowful yet
rejoicing.” Does he know something we don’t? Apparently so.
Many of you
are going through grim struggles. Husbands have passed away way too soon,
children are breaking hearts, or reports from the doctor contain devastating
news. How is it possible to have joy in these scenarios? In spite of great
sufferings that seem too great to bear, Paul offers a pathway that enables us to
move forward with peace.
Years ago, I learned there are three kinds of
joy…
emotions. For example, if we’re feeling relieved, we think we’re experiencing
joy. Or if we’re excited that we’ve lost a few pounds, we’re joyful. Is this the
joy Paul was speaking of? No. Both instances describe a feeling of happiness,
which is an emotion that comes and goes, originating from an outside stimuli.
It’s rooted in cosmetic issues.
Then there’s circumstantial joy. This kind of joy is determined
by the happenings around us. Perhaps, you lost your job, your health has taken a
downturn or your former husband did not pay child support. “If only
circumstances were different,” we say. “Then I’d find joy.” Again, this isn’t
true joy. Instead it’s a kind of joy based on secular realities that are
unpredictable, leaving one constantly vulnerable to outside elements. Both of
these two kinds of joy leave one on the rollercoaster ride of
life.
Lastly there’s the kind of joy Paul was talking about: spiritual
joy. It has nothing to do with our emotions or circumstances. It’s not a joy
based on temporal things. It’s a joy based solely on the Lord — not touched by
the world and revolving around who God is and what He has promised for His
children. It’s a reality that surpasses our understanding. It’s a peace that
abides in the heart that knows no matter what, all is well because Jesus is in
the midst of its outcome. It’s not driven or tossed by worldly issues but
remains a constant inside stabilizer above emotions or circumstances.
So
here are the two big questions: How do we cultivate spiritual joy? And how did
Jesus nurture this kind of joy as He considered the cross? Hebrews 12:2-3
unlocks the secret, and might I add The Message Bible gives a flavorful
explanation:
“Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this
race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was
headed – that exhilarating finish in and with God – he could put up with
anything along the way: the Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the
place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your
faith, go over that story attain, item by item that long litany of hostility he
plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”
So we get
to pick. Which will govern our day? Emotional joy? Circumstantial joy? Or
spiritual joy?
Truths to ponder:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as
you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NIV)
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation
brought joy to my soul.” (Psalm 94:19 NIV)
“Your love has given me great joy.” (Philemon 1:7
NIV)
[written by Pam Kanaly]
