This week, I’d like to share something I wrote during finals week last semester. As I find myself entering yet another finals week, I feel incredibly burnt out. I feel tired. I feel bored. I feel unmotivated. I feel overwhelmed. I feel stressed. And I recognize so many of us feel this way as we simply try to conquer everyday life.
“… I would assume that during this season, like most, almost everyone has at least one thing weighing on their heart, one little worry that seems to consistently bring you down. Or maybe you have 99 of these worries. Maybe you have an inexpressible force sitting on your chest. No matter which category you fall into, I’d like to share some Truths that recently exceeded the threshold of “calming and comforting,” and ended up waking, and brightening, my spirit.
This revelation came in the form of a Capsule Sermon that caught my attention in the Sunday bulletin:
“The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.”
This not only caught my attention, but it honestly convicted me, because how many of my days have I wasted… How many of my days have I allowed to be stolen by a grey cloud or a minor inconvenience… The short answer? Way more than I’d like to admit.
In the midst of a hectic week, in the midst of a troubling season, and even in the midst of a crazy year- I hope you stand strong and persevere against the thieves of joy. I hope you can still find something to smile about. And if you can’t, try to shift your focus. Dig up your roots and transplant them into the everlasting soil of Christ. For there you will find true joy.
– and that is just the thing I want to focus on here.
So, without further ado, here’s what the Bible says about JOY-
In Psalm 90:14, Moses (later compiled by David) writes-
“Satisfy us in the morning with your faithful love
so that we may shout with joy and be glad all our days.”
Did you catch that? ALL our days. Not just the ones where our hair looks nice or all the traffic lights are green…
In Psalm 16:11, it states-
“You reveal the path of life to me; in your presence is abundant joy;
at your right hand are eternal pleasures.”
Here the author conveys the presence and duration of joy as “abundant” and “eternal.” It cannot be depleted by any force, and it does not end.
John 15:11 describes joy by declaring-
“I have told you these things so that my joy may be in you and your joy may be complete.“
True joy, found in Jesus Christ, is complete. Just as it can never be depleted, it cannot be expanded. Because it does not need to be, for it is as expansive as the universe.
Again, John describes joy in John 16:22-
“So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you.“
No one, no circumstance, no thing can steal your joy when it is planted in everlasting soil.
Finally, in 1 Peter 1:8 it reads-
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy,”
What a beautiful description! “Inexpressible and glorious joy-“ so mighty, so wonderful.
I pray you won’t forget these words, The Word, the Truth.
… I hope you won’t lose sight of true joy. I pray your roots stay planted deeply in Christ.
Don’t spend a day without laughter, without joy. Delight in the joy and promises of Jesus during every circumstance, every season.
I promise you, if you will pay attention, the Lord will bless you with little, intentional moments for your enjoyment and delight throughout each day.
And one more note… as my Aunt Kathy sang Sunday while I searched to see what the Bible said about joy… there is no way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey. So, friends, if God’s called you to this path, and you’re following and obeying his direction, it is not for you to question. He worked it out long before you even began to worry.”