Joy No Matter What
“Hab 3:17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights.”
“1 Thess 5:16 Be joyful always; 17pray continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. “
One of the primary themes that arises from the book of Habakuk is that the righteous shall live by faith. We can either shake our fists in anger towards God during the midst of a storm, or we can bow down on our knees, thanking God for His safekeeping thus far.
In the midst of the storm, why not try turning to Scripture? Read Ps 27, Ps 91, Is 55:12, Jer 29:11, and Rom 8:28 for encouragement. (Try looking at these scriptures in an Amplified Bible for added benefit.)
Singing praises to God in times of difficulty not only produces joy in the singer, but it is also a witness of God’s faithfulness to all who hear. Such an attitude is pleasing to God.
Do you see a pattern developing here? “Though there are no sheep in the pen…yet I will rejoice in the Lord.” If you can’t rejoice for what He has given you, rejoice for Who He is. If your distress is too much to bear, and you simply cannot find joy, tell Him that, too (He knows anyway.) If you want to develop hind’s feet that will carry you above the storm clouds, then you must learn to rely on the strength of the Lord. If you can’t trust anyone else in this world, you can trust Him.
Reliance on Jesus does not grow stronger in the good times, but during the storms.
Our Father desires that we live in joy, but what happens when we lose that joy?
John 10: 10 says: “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full. “
Satan knows he cannot steal our salvation, so what has he come to steal? Our joy! If Satan can steal our joy, then he can kill our enthusiasm and destroy our witness. That’s a pretty good victory for someone described in scripture as the father of lies.
You can’t think of any sin that would have caused you to lose your joy? Then go before God and ask Him for a revelation. You might just get a glimpse of whatever has separated you from God, because that’s what sin does. But when the Cross bridged the gap between sinful man and a Holy God, a way was made for reconciliation.
Admittedly, joy is sometimes lost because the burdens we bear are overwhelming, and joy seems to be the first casualty. We may not have control over all of the circumstances in our life, but we do have control over how we react to those circumstances. Do you feel like crying? Try singing, instead. Do you feel like giving up? Try giving of yourself to someone worse off than you. Joy is easier to keep and harder to lose if we share it with others.
Summary
- Joy is a grace gift grown during storms.
- Joy can be yours regardless of circumstances.
- Joy is increased through singing praises to God for His great mercies.
- Joy can only produce joy.
- Storms both reveal and produce character.
- Joy can be lost, but it can also be found again.
- Repentance restores joy.
May we seek joy, today and every day, and may we remember the source of our joy.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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