Do you have joy? I wonder if we can share our joy in our deepest connections? The sharing of life is joy. I think of the family and friends I have shared with through the years make me think of shared joy in the deeps. The joy I have in life are a result of how thought of events and relationships. Those that bring you greater joy cause even deeper pain. I wonder how many people think they are not able to experience deep abiding joy due to the pains related in their experiences and relationships. It is possible by some miracle my thoughts on joy in this blog are reaching one such joyless persons. If that is the case I would humbly ask you to read on. The lack of joy is not because of you are doomed to stay in the grips of a harsh reality griping your soul in it’s inescapable prison. I honestly relate with this type of incarceration. The pain of my depression and sadness feels more like a twin to my joy.
Twins are a good example of how great joy can be so closely related to our pain. The twins often have affinities for the same things, but can also be very distinct in taste and personalities. The difference between their physical makeup is hidden to people unfamiliar. Those familiar have less of a challenge. The twins can cooperate with each other through adulthood in clothing and style making their distinguishing features veiled. However, the distinctions do exist , and under the right circumstances the individuality of the twins will be either compelled voluntarily on involuntarily.
Friends we are all carrying with us our joys and sorrows. These are often below the surface, until we are challenged with life’s ebbs. The challenge is what kind of joy do we have? Learning something new is always a challenge that is uncomfortable. Leaning and comfort are not bedfellows. The joy of learning does not make a student smile and laugh through the process of learning. No, often the fear of new surroundings and the unknown have a different affect on one’s emotional being. Joy is so deep that it can help us move beyond our fears. Time has often robbed me of wide eyed joy of going beyond my fears. How about you? My wife taught me about learning and comfort. She took swimming lessons as an adult. She was determined to be able to swim in the deep waters of the pool with family as we vacationed. Her swimming instructor was out for a day and she was instructed by a different instructor. Watching form the side, I noticed my wife swimming along with her instructor walking alongside the pool. This was not familiar formula for my wife’s swimming career. She wanted the instructor to get in the pool alongside her as her regular instructor did. She would swim a along and suddenly stop. ” I need you to guide me in the water”, she would splash wiping water off her face. The instructor would calmly say you are doing fine keep going. This same conversation went on throughout the swimming lesson. The instructor was quite right she was swimming in almost perfect form, but when her fear over came her she would jump up pleading for more assistance. I couldn’t help laughing. I realized in those moments that of course she is anxious. She was learning. God shows us that our discomfort does not release us from learning and serving Him. God knows we live in unfamiliar waters of faith flailing along ,looking to feel his steady hand of assurance in the water next to us. Her instructor did a very wise thing she spoke to her with assurance ,”You are doing fine. I am right here.”
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31
Our joy is on our inward person, and is independent of our outward experience. Yes, I have found joy to be enhanced once I learned something new or had a victory. We often mistake our happiness for joy. God can get glory and we can get the advantage or be blessed, once we have decided to think on His goodness and His mercy despite not experiencing a “happy , or fun” situation. Much like in swimming lessons, life lessons can teach us to press on because joy can fuel our will into overdrive. Once in overdrive we can now withstand the negative or energy draining situations because He is coaching us to keep on going. He has not left us to drown in the pool.
“fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the Joy set before Him he endured the cross, scorning it’s shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:3
God endured the worst so we could join Him in the New Covenant made possible through the cross of Jesus. You are not far from your joy just keep in mind “The Pioneer” not only is with you and encouraging you, but He can relate to your situations and struggles. Invite Him and keep on inviting Him into your life.
