Joy

We often speak of happiness, fun, or excitement but when asked, “How are you?”  Our answer is not very often “I’m joyful thank you”.   

What is joy and where does it come from?   

What brings you a feeling of pleasure or happiness?   

Does it come from the outside in or from the inside out?   

In the Pixar movie “Inside Out” they put characters to the feelings of sadness, fear, anger, disgust and JOY. 

In one scene the emotion Joy makes this statement: “You remember how she used to stick her tongue out when she was colouring? I could listen to her stories, all day. I just wanted Riley to be happy...” 

A wrestling match that we all fight is one between joy and sadness…Undiluted sadness can be stifling and destructive if we lose sight of joy altogether, however, the movie points out sadness also gives birth to important things such as empathy and compassion. 

In the Bible, Nehemiah speaks in chapter 8 verse 10 saying, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Sounds like a good party verse but when we look at the context why do we need strength?   

To get through hard times!   

Israel was in captivity; they had lost all their land and lost their temple where they worshipped, which was a BIG part of who they were.  But in the middle of that Nehemiah says don’t lose sight of joy. 

What is the joy of the Lord?   

Nehemiah reads to them from the scripture and God reaffirms they are still His people and He is still their God. Israel may have been going through hard times, they had walked away from God, but God reaffirms He is a God of compassion and forgiveness and He had not walked away from them.   

That relationship brings strength.  

In the New Testament the writer of Hebrews 12:2 speaks of Jesus and says, “For the joy set before him he endured the cross.”   

In the midst of his darkest day, basically on death row, he had not lost sight of the joy ahead, of being reunited with his Father and of a sacrifice once and for all to cover sin.    

You might be going through a season of dark days, loss, brokenness, failure, challenges… the sadness of struggle and loss can bring about an empathy and understanding to walk with others if you let it.   

But in the midst of it don’t be overcome and lose sight of joy on this journey called life.   

Blessings and Wisdom, 

Pastor Glenn