Joy of The Lord!

A brilliant trait of Christ is Joy, which is a deep and persisting inner gladness.  Joy was promised to believers who abide in Christ by the Lord Himself (John 15:11).  It springs up in the heart that is in trusting communion with God.  In addition, joy is a profound sense of well-being that is not dependent upon positive circumstances, but is rooted in that fellowship with God through Jesus Christ (1Jn. 1:4). Joy is a deep-seated acceptance of God’s rule and will, and yes, a full confidence in the plan of the Lord.

Joy is not happiness because happiness depends largely on happenings.  As long as the events are enjoyable the individual is happy, but if the developments become unpleasant, the happiness cease. Thus happiness is far too shallow, situated too severely in external stimulations, vulnerable to shifting circumstances, and excessively fleeting. It cannot be relied on and is grossly unaccountable. Conversely the joy of the Lord can be a steadfast characteristic of believers because it is anchored in the Lord who never changes.

Spiritual joy can pervade the human soul even in the midst of painful circumstances.  Kenneth W. Osbeck in his book Amazing Grace: 366 Inspiring Hymn Stories for Daily Devotions observed (Osbeck 1990, p. 360),

The gospel of Jesus Christ revolves around the two Advents of the Savior: The first when He came as the humble baby in Bethlehem’s manger (Philippians 2:6–8); the second when He returns as King of kings with power and great glory to establish His eternal kingdom (Luke 21:27). Christ’s first coming assures us that we now have a God who identified Himself with us in every aspect of life from birth to death. The anticipation of His second coming assures us that we will live and reign with Him forever. Such a hope keeps this life from becoming “tedious and tasteless”—regardless of the seasons or situations.

The ultimate source of inner joy is God Himself, not our circumstances. Without an intimate sense of His daily presence, however, our lives can easily become wintry and frigid. “BUT WHEN I AM HAPPY WITH HIM, DECEMBER’S AS PLEASANT AS MAY.”

Again joy is not merely happiness because happiness is based on the arrangement of desirable circumstances, but joy endures in spite of an unfavorable state of affairs. Consider Paul’s experience and advice from prison, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say Rejoice” (Phil. 4:4). It would be wisdom to follow Paul’s advice instead of being a ‘chronic complainer.’  Joy does not depend on happy conditions because it rests in God’s sovereign control of all things (Rom. 8:28).  Dr. Tan conveyed this truth in his Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illustrations acknowledging the importance of Christ’s reign in one’s life. It is entitled Joy is the Flag,

Principal Rainy (Tan 1979, p. 2821), of whom a child once remarked that she believed he went to Heaven every night because he was so happy every day, once used a fine metaphor about a Christian’s joy. “Joy,” he said, “is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.”

Oh, that Christ reigned in every heart! Joy is contentment and satisfaction with God and with all His dealings as He works life together for good (Phil. 4:11). One may not always “see the good” that God is working in their life at the moment; but believers can take Him at His word knowing that He is working it together (Ps. 4:7; 37:5).

Joy is a “looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our Faith.” Christ possessed joy in Hebrews 1:9; 12:2 as He looked beyond the suffering to the glory. Joy enabled Him to endure the cross. Evidently, the “joy of the Lord” (Neh. 8:10) is spiritual strength. The more joy resides in and fills the soul the more vigor one has to endure the challenging and painful periods of life. Joy affords believers spiritual muscles and strong hearts.

Additionally, a joy-filled believer will make a positive impact for the glory of God. For instance, more people could be won to Christ and attracted to Christianity if God’s people displayed real joy characteristically (Jn. 15:11; 10:10).  Christ wills that His people not only have life, but that they have it more abundantly! If Christians lived in the joy of Christ more people would desire His salvation. Joy should not only create a curiosity, but also a hunger in the heart for the Lord. Christianity should be marked by saltiness while providing light to all (Matt. 5:13-16). Joy is solid evidence of Christianity’s distinctive testimony. May people see believer’s good works and glorify God in Heaven. Remember the words of the Savior, “Rejoice, because your names are written in heaven” (Luke 10:20).