{ Joy } Three little letters that pack a whole lot of punch. We’ve been told this fruit of the spirit comes in the morning and we should find it in the journey. We are to choose it, delight in it, find our strength in it, and scatter it. To look beyond our circumstances and put it on. To grit our teeth, plaster on a smile, and fake it even when we don’t feel it.
That’s a lot of pressure for such a small word.
Has your joy gone missing? Is it a little hard to locate among the stuff-of-life?
Maybe instead of bells ringing your bills are piling. Instead of peace on earth, you’re walking through the trial of your life. Perhaps dreams are dying, family is quarreling, and the closest you’ve got to Christmas is a peppermint mocha from Starbucks.
Sometimes life can suck the joy right out of rejoicing. And when joy is missing, it’s hard to pretend you still have it.
But in Christ, we are tethered to a variety of joy that we can’t be separated from. It’s not an emotion, as much as a reaction. A response to the actions of a God who endured the cross, bore the shame and gave His all on our behalf – for the joy set before Him.
The same joy is unfurled before us. The pattern has been set. The red carpet is rolled out. We walk step by step, in faith, trusting that although we can’t see the reason, we don’t feel the emotion, and we can’t lay hold of the promise – joy is still there.
I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For He has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in the robe of righteousness.” Isaiah 61:10 NLT
We are the joy-receiver not the joy-supplier.
God holds the market on joy and He has plenty to give. In Him, you are wrapped in it, adorned with it, and firmly attached to the promise that your joy – though it seems to have gone missing – is firmly intact.
Don’t bear the burden of conjuring up your own joy. Don’t scour the web for the perfect recipe. You won’t find your joy in things or people or the latest self-help craze. You can shop and eat and make all the money in the world – that brand of joy is fleeting at best.
If it’s pure joy you are after [unadulterated, unfiltered, no strings attached] go to the Source. Tap into His word, drink of His Everlasting Life, and hunger for joy no more.
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all who obey Him.
Shout for joy, all whose hearts are pure.
Psalms 32:2,11 NLT
God is our joy. When we rely on Him for joy, instead of depend on ourselves for it, He’s able to sift through all the things in our life that are blocking out joy and replace them with more of Him. More joy.
Perhaps your joy has been gone for so long, you’re not even sure where you left it. Maybe it’s only recently that joy seems to have disappeared. You might wonder if you ever had the real stuff to start.
Search no more. Simply rest.
Whatever your stage, your condition, or your need, God will supply your joy. You don’t have to fake it, make your own version of it, or go looking for a substitute.
Turn your heart toward Him and believe.
Your joy will return. And in Him, it will remain.
** Linking up with the beautiful blogging communities and the friends of my heart, Holley Gerth, Meredith Bernard, Kristin Hill Taylor, and Jennifer Dukes Lee.
I so need to hear this at times. We are made to feel guilty if we don’t have joy all the time. If we can’t be honest with God about it, who can we be?
Yes, He will bring it back and I am so grateful for that!
I’m with you, Sarah…being honest before God and trusting Him with our joy, or lack thereof. Thanks for stopping by…blessings!
Tiffany, this is a fantastic post… I so often try to muster up joy and to no avail…. you are right, it cannot be pretended. It IS a response from a heart enamored and fully trusted in Him! I love the reminder to simply rest. I will have to return to this post again. :)
Me too, Kim…God give me the words and then He often proves them in my life. A little “practice what you preach” nudge in the right direction. I’m so grateful that even when we don’t get it the first go around, there is grace and rest in Him. Hugs, friend!
Beautiful thoughts for this time of year. We need to always feel the Joy that God brings to us. When I feel bits and pieces of that true joy it is priceless. Thanks, again, Tiffany for your beautiful words.
Thank you, Yvonne…priceless indeed!
Thank you for the encouragement! I love the mental picture of being tethered to God’s joy :). I needed that image in my mind right now!
Me too, Anita…me too!! Holding on with both hands!! :) Always blessed when you visit.
Thank you for the reminder that the source of our joy is Jesus. I am happy that i was your neighbor on Three Word Wednesday. I hope you have a lovely day!
Thank you, Jolene. So blessed you stopped by. :)
Hi, Tiffany. I’ve been thinking about my what focus will be in the new year and God keeps telling me JOY. I’ve always loved the song “Joy to the World,” but it’s striking a different part of my heart this year. I loved reading your post. I’m glad you linked up at #ThreeWordWednesday.
Hi Kristin…so glad you visited today. Joy has taken on new meanings for me too lately and it is a great place to rest a little more attention. Thank you for being such a generous hostess. Blessings!!
Thanks sweet friend for the reminder that our joy is received not manufactured! I needed that hope today! Looking for His joy to show up in surprising ways . . . in me.
Amen, friend…He isn’t asking us (you, me) to fake our way through it. He wants to lavish it on us and let the response be from our heart so we can reflect joy with pure motives. I am looking for the joy too…He is indeed a God of beautiful surprises. ❤️
I love the little beautiful surprises that He shows us. So amazing, indeed!
Beautiful –> “Turn your heart toward Him and believe.” And the joy will return! May we turn towards Him fully during this time of waiting. Grateful to have stopped here this morning from Coffee for Your Heart!
Yes indeed, Joanne…I’m with you. Keeping our eyes fixed on Him and waiting with faith that joy will return. I’m so grateful you stopped by. Blessings to you!
Thank you for this reminder: He is our JoY supplier. :)
Thats a post-it kind of reminder for me! Thanks for visiting. :)
This is a lovely encouragement.
I definitely know how easy it is to lose joy by simply taking my attention off of Christ.
That’s for sure, Heather…eyes fixed on Jesus makes all the difference, doesn’t it?! Thanks for stopping by. Blessings!
Beautiful post! Been there… “when your joy is missing, it’s hard to pretend you still have it.” So thankful we don’t need to be the joy supplier! I needed this today. So glad I followed you at Woman2Woman and Coffee For Your Heart. Blessings to you!
Hi Julie! Thanks so much for stopping by. Blessed that you related…yes, pretending joy is a tough one. So grateful He supplies.