Where’s the Joy? It’s Inside
Troubles got you a bit down? It seems as though life constantly reminds us of our difficulties, heartaches, and challenges. It's easy to let it all impact us in a negative way and end up overwhelmed by anxiety and stress. Jesus knows what your facing right at this moment, and He says, "Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows; but cheer up, for I have overcome the world" (John 16:33). He's saying, "Yes, you have troubles, but I've overcome the world, so cheer up. Brighten up your face."
You may be facing a difficult situation today. Perhaps you've lost a loved one, or you're stuck in a financial setback, or your child is off course. Life has pushed your joy down. I am reminded that when God brought the Israelites out from their extremely difficult captivity in Babylon that He promised they would "go out in joy and be led forth in peace" (Isaiah 55:12). He was showing us that if we're going to stand under the trials of life and come through the dark places, we have to come out with joy and walk in peace. The key to staying strong in God is through partaking in His joy every day, "for the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). We have to use joy to deliver us from anxious thoughts, defeat, and discouragement. Joy is the key, and it's inside us.
Jesus prayed that His joy would "remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). The beauty of the joy that Jesus gives us is that it is not dependent on what is going on around us. His joy is in us. When you said yes to Jesus, nothing changed on the outside, but He gave you a new heart inside and filled it with His joy. He's saying, "I've given you exactly what you need to defeat the power of the enemy and stay strong in this life."
His joy is inside you, but you have to cultivate it. It's a bit like the lemon tree I planted years ago. I made sure the soil was right, and I watered it, fed it nutrients, cultivated it, and eventually the first lemons that were in the tree finally came out for me to use. In a similar way, you have to tap into His joy. You have to develop it and practice it. The apostle Paul says it this way: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). To rejoice means "to brighten."
There's a light of Jesus' joy inside you. You just have to turn it up.
You may be facing a difficult situation today. Perhaps you've lost a loved one, or you're stuck in a financial setback, or your child is off course. Life has pushed your joy down. I am reminded that when God brought the Israelites out from their extremely difficult captivity in Babylon that He promised they would "go out in joy and be led forth in peace" (Isaiah 55:12). He was showing us that if we're going to stand under the trials of life and come through the dark places, we have to come out with joy and walk in peace. The key to staying strong in God is through partaking in His joy every day, "for the joy of the Lord is our strength" (Nehemiah 8:10). We have to use joy to deliver us from anxious thoughts, defeat, and discouragement. Joy is the key, and it's inside us.
Jesus prayed that His joy would "remain in you, and that your joy may be full" (John 15:11). The beauty of the joy that Jesus gives us is that it is not dependent on what is going on around us. His joy is in us. When you said yes to Jesus, nothing changed on the outside, but He gave you a new heart inside and filled it with His joy. He's saying, "I've given you exactly what you need to defeat the power of the enemy and stay strong in this life."
His joy is inside you, but you have to cultivate it. It's a bit like the lemon tree I planted years ago. I made sure the soil was right, and I watered it, fed it nutrients, cultivated it, and eventually the first lemons that were in the tree finally came out for me to use. In a similar way, you have to tap into His joy. You have to develop it and practice it. The apostle Paul says it this way: "Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice" (Philippians 4:4). To rejoice means "to brighten."
There's a light of Jesus' joy inside you. You just have to turn it up.