I can hardly believe we are at the end of September. This year has been a blur. That is what was going through my mind one morning as I awoke. Suddenly a profound thought burst into my mind. “Find the Joy.”
This past year has been challenging for many of us. We’ve had to work hard to find moments of peace, and joy has been elusive for many. Nevertheless, finding joy is crucial to living the life Jesus died to give us.
Nehemiah, when tasked with rebuilding the walls, said this:
Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength. Nehemiah 8:10
If our strength is found in the joy of the Lord, as this verse says, how do we obtain that joy?
While digging through scripture today, I found a few ways to cultivate the joy of the Lord.
You will show me the path of life. In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore. (Ps 16:11)
For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place. Ascribe to the LORD, all you families of nations; ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. (1 Chron 16:26-28)
Spending time in the presence of the Lord is one of the most powerful ways to experience true joy. His presence is where you can find complete and overwhelming joy. Imagine experiencing absolute and overwhelming joy – would that not be truly amazing? It is possible with God.
In addition to that, we also experience JOY through the Word of the Living God.
When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart’s delight, for I bear your name, LORD God Almighty. (Jer 15:16)
When we take the time to praise and worship God, it fills our hearts with joy. So, during difficult times, it’s essential to carve out moments to lift our voices in praise and worship to God.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you— I whom you have delivered. (Ps 71:23)
My friends, we all go through seasons when joy is hard to come by. None of us are exempt. Yet joy is ours with God! An interesting thing I recently discovered about joy is that the very definition of joy means to obtain it by seeking it. Isn’t that insightful?
Joy will not fall into our laps; we must seek it, pursue it, and find it in our daily lives. It will take effort on our part.
Matthew 7:7 tells us; Ask, and it shall be given to you, seek and you shall find.
There are days when we must actively seek out joy, much like uncovering a hidden treasure. However, the rewards are well worth the effort. Within that joy lies the strength required to navigate triumphantly through all the different seasons of life. I have found that just as you can always find something to be thankful for, you can always find a reason to have joy – if you choose to search it out.
Isaiah 55:12 says, You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.
We have a promise. We can exit every season, good or not-so-good, with joy. God has given us the keys and the tools to accomplish this – it’s our job to seek it out, to find the joy.
One of my favorite scriptures is found in Habakkuk 3:17-19; I will leave you with this today.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he enables me to tread on the heights.
Today, my friend, choose to find joy in your day, in your life, and in every season.
Hours after I finished this writing – something came across my path that I believe speaks into this same thing. It is by Bill Burns/ The Trumpet… September 22, 2024:
You are entering into a season of light. The light that brings revelation and reveals My presence is upon you. Even though darkness is increasing on earth, My glory shall rest upon those who are Mine, says the Lord. You shall begin to shine forth in My kingdom, so be filled with joy. For, it is the season to do so. Isaiah 60:1-2 Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and deep darkness the people; but the Lord will arise over you, and His glory will be seen upon you.
