Nancy Leigh this morning had a guest that said,
People tend to think that if you have the Lord, then you ought to be joyful all the time. But that’s really not the picture that we have in the Bible of anybody who was walking with the Lord. Do we have the joy of the Lord in the midst of trial and difficulty? Yes. But we also suffer grief and sorrow and we live in a fallen world. Part of what that means is that I’m not going to be happy here—the way in which I’m going to be happy when I’m there, when I’m standing with the Lord.This seems so two sided to me- talking from both sides of her mouth. What is this "joy of the Lord" if it doesn't produce joy here and now? Why only a joy for a future life in Heaven? I'm not against having suffering and sorrow. What I'm against is saying that there is this joy that I'm supposed to have all the time that isn't joy as I know it. It's some different kind of joy.
When you read about joy in the Bible, it seems to me to be the kind of joy that I'm familiar with. (Try it: Go to Biblegateway.com and put the word "joy" in the search box. See if it's not a joy you recognize!) It's joyful dancing in the streets when a battle has been won. It's leaping for joy at the birth of a baby that was believed impossible. It's joy at gazing on God's creation. I know these kinds of joy. And these kinds of joy can be squelched by death, injury, pain, sorrow, sin, sadness, shame, monotony, self-absorption, pride... the list goes on and on. If I listed all the joy-squelchers I'd be here all day!
But something else I noticed while I read these entries on joy was that much of the joyful writers' joy came from knowing that God was in control (see Psalm 97 especially). He speaks of Light-seeds and Joy-seeds being planted in my heart simply from realizing that God is in control. And in Isaiah 55, God says that the covenant He has made with us is that of a "sure, solid, and enduring love". So the God in control has a sure, solid, enduring love for me that isn't going to quit- that can withstand the storms of any death, injury, pain, sorrow, sin, sadness, shame, monotony, self-absorption, pride.... He will still be in control. He will still love me. According to Isaiah 35:8, God's road is a road of redemption, where joy is unfading. A road where He is buying me back from a life of monotony and self-absorption. So I go out on that road of redemption and walk into a life of joy that is complete (Isaiah 55:12-13). A life that knows that God is in control, despite the gray. And then, in my heart, a little tiny seed of Light is planted- a joy-seed.
It's good to know I don't have to wait until Heaven to have joy.
6 comments:
Well welcome back to your blog site! BetI've been to your site more times in the 5 weeks than you have. :) Great blog. Gives me much to think about. Thanks.
Welcome back! Enjoyed reading your post.
I've just come through about 8 months of gray, while my blog lay fallow. Perhaps the field into which the seed of the word falls benefits from this in some way we don't understand.
Hope you will post again very soon :)
Your immense writing craft never ceases to stir my heart. The articulation of your thoughts and expressions are remarkable. I am refreshed each time I pass by. Abide on in Him.
You are probably so very busy and I understand but...Blog Allison..Blog....
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