Joy....Now More Than Ever!

Recently, I have become even more aware of a growing trend within me. It seems that I am encountering an unusual amount of disappointment that has been "challenging my joy!" I am not saying that I am purposely trying to be a pessimist or “looking” for every situation to be where “the glass is half empty instead of half full.” I am talking about things that are more than just a misunderstanding when things turn out differently than I expected. It is missing the mark or out-right failure of meeting the standards that catches my attention.

For instance, I pay extra for 3-day shipping for an on-line order only for it to arrive a week later with no apologies or refund. I come into work on my day off in order to meet with a friend only for them to call at the last minute to say they can’t make it. I order and pay for a gift on-line and choose for it to be “picked up at the store” (because it is in stock and I want to surprise someone) only to get an email stating “we’re sorry, but this item is unavailable!”

We live in a fallen world. People are human. Things happen that I have no control over. The only thing I can control is my response towards these things that drive me crazy. Nothing can take my happiness unless I allow it to. Nothing “makes me” angry, cynical or upset. I choose to let it make me this way. And then, THAT is when it hit me. I caught myself….mostly from the Holy Spirit’s conviction to stop focusing on these irritations and the disappointments of life.

Immediately, the beloved hymn “Joy Unspeakable” welled up inside me. It is verse four that I like most: “I have found the joy no tongue can tell, how its waves of glory roll; It is like a great o’erflowing well, springing up within my soul. And the refrain: It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory; It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, oh the half has never yet been told.”

It is becoming far too easy to dwell on the negative side of things. Things in life will disappoint us, yet God never will. People will fail me, but God never will. His eternal and internal joy He gives us as Christians should always be within us….ready to spring forth like a geyser with gratefulness, praise and thanksgiving no matter the situation.

Even when “life happens” and things don’t go according to plan…and even those times I feel cheated and lose time, money and resources…I can let that go, and find joy in the situation and at the very least, one or two things I can be thankful for.

So, no matter what life throws at you, “in everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Overcome the negative with the positives of thankfulness and gratitude that only a heart filled with joy can do. After all, we need joy, now, more than ever!

Learn from Lydia

There are a lot of interesting mentions of women in the Bible. Whether it is the Old Testament or New Testament, there are many strong, yet oddly missed, lessons from women that we can familiarize ourselves with to strengthen our faith. One such woman is named Lydia. She provides a very powerful lesson for us. We find one particular mention of her in the book of Acts. Acts 16:14 , says that Lydia “reverenced God, and the Lord opened her heart to accept what Paul was saying.” Lydia is actually a significant person in the New Testament. She is described as “a dealer in purple goods” (Acts 16:14). Pointing that out is quite a clue. Dealing in “purple goods” was considered a luxury in the ancient world. It is probably safe to say that she was both a woman of great financial means and able to deal successfully with the influential people of her time. She was also noted as having a great gift of persuasion. I think she might have been the only perso...

Tetelestai!

Just before Jesus gives up His spirit on the cross, He utters a very powerful word. The word that He cries out is “ tetelestai” (tih-tellis-tie). When literally translated, this word means, “It is finished.” It can also refer to something completed or accomplished. The word occurs in John 19:28 and 19:30 and these are the only two places in all of the New Testament where it is found. In the John19:28 passage, it is translated, “After this, when Jesus knew that all things were now completed , in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, he said, ‘I thirst.’” Two verses later, he utters the word himself: “Then when he received the sour wine Jesus said, ‘ It is finished ,’ and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.” Did you know that the word tetelestai was also written on business documents or receipts in New Testament times to show indicating that a bill had been paid in full? The Greek-English lexicon (by Moulton and Milligan) sa...

Asking "What" Instead of "Why"

Life is not easy and it is not void of struggle, challenges, pain, sorrow, loss, grief, and suffering. I am sure I can come up with more words than that, but this article would soon blossom to two to three pages in length. I am sure we are familiar with the trials and frustrations of Job in the Old Testament. Some of us might even be familiar with the words of Habakuk in 1:2 , “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen?” When things don’t go well or something tragic or unfortunate befalls us, we are faced with the struggles of crying out to God, “why me?” “Why, God, did you let this happen?” Many times, we too, grow frustrated and angry at God, for how He chooses to work within our situations and circumstances. We sure do end up asking God a lot of “why” questions. I believe “why” could be the wrong word to be using. Asking “why” seems to imply a lack of faith, ungratefulness, and, somehow, that we think God owes us an explanation, an answer or reaso...

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