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A Year of Joy


I've decided that 2017 is going to be the year of joy for me.  I thought it would be nice to check in every now and again to share a bit of what God is teaching me about his joy. So here are five things I'm learning (in no particular order): 

1. There are so many things in this world that strive to steal our joy.  Failure, defeat, fatigue, depression, anxiety... and so often we let them. I have found joy to be a choice.  Jesus never forces himself on anyone, and he doesn't force his joy on them either.  He will allow us to carry on being "happy," "content," or even just sad, but he wants so much more for us. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.  I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10) Often this choice is a daily habit we must build.  Sometimes even a choice we have to make every few minutes.  But I'm finding the effort to be so, so worth it. 

2. We cannot find our joy here on earth.  If we anchor our contentment in anything other than Christ, we set our selves up for failure and a whole lot of hurt.  God gives us many blessings here, but we have to remember that He is the source of joy, not the blessing.  And we can't anchor ourselves in people.  Maybe especially not in people.  It is so easy to become attached to others when we are pouring into them and they are pouring into us.  But our joy derives from human relationships, we will always be let down (since we all fall short of the glory of God).  Our satisfaction will come from God alone. And when the people around us are also finding their joy in God, our relationships become much more healthy.   

3.  Our circumstances cannot define our joy.  We can all point out times when life went under and we felt as though we were surrounded by darkness.  Maybe you're there now.  If you are, I know the last thing you want to hear is another person saying, "but you're a Christian, you should have so much hope!" or some version of that.  We cannot force hope or joy upon anyone, and while we should have joy in trials, simply saying "be happy" is not the solution.  But when we have a relationship with God, while we may not be happy all of the time, we can be joyful.  Even in the midst of the hardest times, choosing joy in Christ is the most comforting thing we can do. 

4.  Joy is linked to obedience to God.  Obedience and joy are two words that I wouldn't put together at first.  Or maybe I just didn't want to.  But, when we are doing God's will, that is when we find joy.  I believe God has a ministry for each of us.  Are we seeking it out? Are we in His ministry daily? Jesus' joy came in doing the work of His Father.  Is our joy found in obedience? I have found that when we surrender ourselves to God, that is when we find the most joy.  And again, seeking out the will of our Abba is worth every effort.

5. "The joy of the LORD is your strength." (Nehemiah 8:10)
What is the joy of the LORD? Christ was in such close communion with His Father so He knew how to obey.  We cannot put our trust in God and then turn and say "now I just have to do my best."  That's not how this relationship with our Father works.  He wants our burdens. He wants our time.  He wants our joy.  The joy of the LORD is cyclical.  And as it is given and received and given and received, we experience a closeness with God.  We begin to know Him more because we commune with Him.  And His joy is with us even in the trials. 

I, by no means, know everything about joy.  And this is just the beginning of my findings.  But I pray this is some small encouragement for you as you walk through your day.  May the joy of the LORD be your strength.  Let's keep learning together.



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