joy

Surely one morning Steve will wake up and find bits of Deb all over the place where this body just couldn't contain it any longer. It bubbles and rolls around inside me, just waiting for any opportunity to burst out in praise and celebration. A song, a word or a thought - each has the ability to stir up this feeling of sheer delight. There seem to be so many reasons contributing to this constantly building emotion that to try and name them all would be almost impossible.

For one thing there's the birth of this ministry, Breath of Fresh Air, and all that God is doing in expanding and directing it. Add to that the wonderful people He's brought alongside to help, together with the feeling that every day is an adventure and it's not surprising that joy seems to be my constant companion.

Then there are the dramatic and positive changes that have taken place within the life of our Congregation over the last two months. With a new Pastor and his lovely young wife, together with their brand new baby girl, a sense of excitement is building every time we come together to worship. The Church is full of praise to God and He's definitely building this small part of His Body once again.

Reasons for joy? It would be impossible to go past the incredible blessing of a wonderful family. A husband who is faithful, loving and committed to our relationship as well as children who are growing up with good character and open hearts to Christ; these most definitely add to the reasons why my heart is singing.

The longer I stop to consider the possible reasons for this bubbling fountain of joy in my life, the longer the list becomes. Precious extended family, much loved old and new friends, our renovations, our Company, our little dog, gentle autumn days - it just goes on and on.

What happens tomorrow if this new and exciting ministry is stripped bare and every door is closed?

What if the re-born excitement and enthusiasm within the life of our congregation begins to wane and life goes back to "business as usual"?

As wonderful as these blessings are, not one of them is a reason for joy. They are certainly a cause for rejoicing, but joy does not, and never will, rely on circumstances, people or things. To believe otherwise is to constantly struggle with understanding how this fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) could possibly be in abundance one day and withered on the vine the next.

This situation is desperate! Not only are the circumstances for the present disastrous, but there's also no hope of future provision. But, in spite of what has happened and will happen, Habakkuk makes a statement that is totally at odds with our normal way of thinking. "YET, I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Happiness comes from the Middle English word "hap", which means luck, fortune or chance. So when we are happy it is totally reliant on the good fortune of our circumstances. The down-side is just as true. When everything starts to fall apart, we become unhappy. In both instances our emotions and feelings are in control.

My test will come when some unfortunate circumstance of life rises up again. Will I fold like a pack of cards, or like Habakkuk, will I choose to focus my eyes on the Lord and rejoice in the God of my salvation? At the end of the day, will there be a deep abiding sense of joy or just the ashes of happiness long grown cold?

Is it easy? No, far from it, and in the same way as agape love can't be expressed without the power of the Holy Spirit, neither can the joy that comes from God.

Paul exhorts the Church in Thessalonica to "be joyful always" (1 Thessalonians 5:16 NIV). Not just when everything is going well or when the sun is shining and birds are singing, but always. Even those times when we feel as though the dark clouds are gathering and the storm is raging all around us. That's when happiness may go out the window, but if we allow it, joy will rise up and take its rightful place.

So how do we find this joy that overrides our feelings and circumstances? We know it's a fruit of the Spirit, but how do we cultivate it in our lives? The answer comes straight from our Savior's mouth:

"If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you

If we want to live a life of joy, then we need to live a life surrendered to Jesus Christ. As we live for Him and do His will, His love will be in us. As we love as He's loved us, then His joy will fill us and flow through us.

The wonderful thing is that where happiness is fleeting, the joy of the Lord is totally and fully complete - not lacking in any way. May we always be able to confidently say that the joy of the Lord is, indeed, our strength!