The theme of our upcoming Poetry Jam is Unspeakable Joy! We are officially a month away from our Poetry Jam and in light of that, every devotional leading up to the event will be on the subject of joy and each writer will offer their unique perspective on this fruit of the spirit. We begin today with Phillip.
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13 NKJV)
Joy is such a profound and substantive state of being, and I view it as a gift and a privilege to have. As children of God, we have the ability to experience joy that comes from the source of all that is pure and good: God. Sometimes, though, it is easy to forget this, especially when life throws distractions, challenges, or hardships our way. And when we forget this, we can be tempted to search for other sources of “joy,” but true Joy is a gift from God and is found in the presence of the Lord.
I am someone who used to easily succumb to feelings of anxiety, especially when I or someone I cared about was facing hardship. As I’ve grown in my faith, I have learned to lean on God, but it was something I intentionally had to, and still have to, practice. I first experienced a bout of severe anxiety in high school, where I was suddenly burdened by a deep feeling of anxiety and worry that I honestly couldn’t explain. My mind and my heart were unsettled. Joy was the very last thing I felt that I had. During that time, I would internally question why I felt that way, why, as a child of God, am I not joyful?
I began to turn to the word of God more intentionally, meditating on his word and his promises. Verses like 2 Timothy 1:7, which says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind,” and Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus,” would help me remember who I am as a child of God and what God has already given me. I would also constantly pray and sing worship songs in my heart, even during class. To be honest, this was not easy; I often found myself seeking God with desperation. But through all this, the Holy Spirit ministered to me, and it wasn’t until then that I experienced peace. I actually still remember the exact moment God lifted that deep, heavy feeling of anxiety from my heart, and it was incredible. I experienced that true peace and joy that only comes from dwelling in the presence of the Lord. I sought God wholeheartedly amid my worry, and He answered me. I finally felt joy.
Joy is a gift from God, and it is up to us to receive this gift and embody it. There are many things in this world, especially the enemy, that will try to steal God’s joy from us. And when we are in a state of hopelessness or sorrow, how can we fulfill God’s commandments to love others as ourselves or embody the fruits of the Spirit? This is not to say we can’t have these feelings, but we are not to remain in these feelings. It is God’s will that we walk in the joy that comes with salvation and having a relationship with Him. Jesus says in John 15:9-11:
“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love.These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (NKJV).
If you find yourself in a place similar to where I was, where your mind is full of fear, or things are just not going your way, or you’ve experienced loss and you feel as if joy is far from your heart, I really want to encourage you to continue to seek the presence of God. I know that when we are in the depths of our hardship, it may seem that there is no way forward, but that is exactly where God comes in. Psalm 30:5 says… “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy comes in the morning”(NKJV). There is absolutely no situation that is too big for God to turn around, and while we are in it, we can still have joy so long as we remain in His presence.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice! (Philippians 4:4, NKJV)
