The Path of Joy

The Strength of Joy
Joy. Sometimes it's an illusive concept. Nehemiah 8:10 says, "For the joy of the Lord is your strength," which translates literally as "delight in Jehovah is a strong refuge." The word delight is defined as "a high degree of pleasure or enjoyment; joy; rapture." Finding joy in God creates a place of safety for us. Spiritually, it creates an atmosphere that is not conducive to distress or disappointment. Psalm 33:3 declares, "But you, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head" (AKJV). In God's presence--in our relationship with Him--joy is realized. When our heads hang down because of sorrow, grief, or despair, it is He who lifts them up--who shows us that we can embrace joy once again.

The Truth of Joy
Part of that joy can be found in knowing the truth.  Psalm 86:11a - "Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth" (NASB). Often when we lack joy, it is because we have not embraced spiritual truth--we've only looked at the natural circumstances. And if I've learned anything, it's that God is way outside the natural. He calls us to walk in His truth, which is actual truth, not the perceived "woe is me-this must be my lot in life-look what happened again-things just never work out" kind of truth that robs us of our joy.

Our Redeemer's Joy
Christ endured the Cross--body beaten beyond recognition, bones completely out of joint, lungs unable to take in air, nails through his hands and feet--complete agony, "for the joy set before him" (Hebrews 12:2). I believe that joy was us! The joy of our salvation, of being able to "present [us] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24b, KJV). Not only was Jesus, our Redeemer, returning to the presence of His Father--He was bringing us with Him! It gave Him great joy to be able to say to the Father, "Look who I have redeemed."

Our Abundant Life
With that redemption comes a whole package of abundant life."The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly" (John 10:10). How frequently we allow the enemy of our souls to steal our joy in life because we forget what Christ has purchased for us! No one can take away our eternal life in Christ, and no one should be allowed to take away our abundant life, which is a gift we've received and live out all by faith--"The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me" (Gal. 2:20b). If He was willing to go to such great lengths to save us, what great plans and purposes He must have for us!


"Joy" That Isn't Full
Our joy cannot be based on how well our kids are doing or the choices they're making; it can't come from the state of our family budget; it can't even be because of all the spiritual activities we're involved in. Though all these things can be sources of joy, they will eventually fail us at some point--the only lasting, reliable joy comes from the one who is unswervingly faithful.

I've realized that if I base my joy on the performance of the people in my life or on the favor of situations, I will live in a perpetually disappointed state--one of continual joy depletion. It's a bit like driving from one gas station to the next and not really paying attention to the journey in between--because once we drive away, the tank starts to empty again. But if we can count each leg of the journey "joy," we can recognize the scenery, smile at the sunshine, stop at the roadstands, take pictures, and truly experience the goodness of God despite the sorrows that may come.

Make the Trade
These things do not catch Him by surprise, and He does not leave us to deal with them on our own. He is an expert in the business of making all things new, so "weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning" (Psalm 30:5b, KJV). There is never a shortage--His joy is always available to us; it is up to us to make the trade. Our sorrows for the joy of the Lord; our spirit of heaviness for the garment of praise; mourning for dancing. 

The Path of Life
May the Lord anoint you (and me!) today with the oil of gladness (Hebrews 1:9) as we live, and move, and have our being in Him--and what He says--not the conditional brand of joy the world and our enemy would try to sell us. Perhaps you've been on the wrong path (as I have), one that keeps leading you away from joy. Ask Him to make His chosen path known to you--for this one won't disappoint.

"You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; In Your right hand there are pleasures forever" (Psalm 16:11, NASB).


Loving us is His great source of joy; loving Him is ours.