Psalm 16:11b ..In your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
‘Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God’ – Sam Storms.
‘The secret of joy’ is in the presence of the Lord. CS Lewis said, ‘Happiness depends on ‘happenings” (circumstances), but JOY comes straight from God’. Joy is not a momentary surge of happiness; it is a perennial stream of delight and tranquility that flows from enjoying His presence. Joy is the strength of the soul. Joy oxidizes faith and fortifies hope. Joy can be found only in the presence of the Lord. The world or wealth can only give us momentary happiness that will fade away but the presence of the Lord will fill us with permanent joy.
The responsibility of remaining joyful rests with us. We have to replenish our joy by going to the presence of the Lord. If you are running low on joy, plug back into His presence and sit at His feet. We must find a quiet corner in our busy day, for a refill of joy that will keep us delightful always. Hence it is not the job of our spouse, children or best friend to make us happy or joyful. They can add to our joy, but the onus does not rest on them.
Hannah’s husband was a good man. He tried his best to keep her happy. “Then Elkanah her husband said to her, “Hannah, why do you weep and why do you not eat and why is your heart sad? Am I not better to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). His empathy could not fill the emptiness of her barrenness. But she found her joy in the presence of the Lord. Hannah left the presence of the Lord with a promise. When she left and ate something, she was not sad anymore (1 Samuel 1:18). It was the joy that filled her heart, that fertilized her womb with the promised prophetic child. In His presence there is fullness of joy.
The secret of joy:
1. Lubricant: Oil is the metaphorical representation of joy. The oil of joy instead of mourning (Isaiah 61:3b). A lubricant is used to reduce friction and manages viscosity in an engine. It ensures the smooth functioning of machinery. Joy lubricates the dryness that is caused by disappointment and restores our soul with confidence that God is in absolute control of everything that is happening.
2. Lift: Joy gives the soul ‘a lift’. Lift is the upward force on the wing of an aircraft. Likewise, joy gives us a lift and moves us to a higher plane in our walk with God.
3. License: Joy is the evidence of God’s presence in us. Joy is the license to represent and share the love of Jesus to the world. A grumpy Christian is not a Christian at all. ‘If you have no joy there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere’ – Billy Sunday.
Frequent visits to God’s presence will ensure a perennial infilling and overflow of joy.
Nehemiah 8:10 “The joy of the Lord is your strength”.
Prayer: Father God, help me to always overflow with joy so the world may see, feel and hear Your love in and through me. Amen.
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