Joy

For many years I've heard much about the joy of the Lord from various preachers. Sang about it in many songs and hymns. And read about it in Scripture. I even prayed for joy but still didn't fully comprehend what the joy of Lord meant. I've been in meetings where people laughed uncontrollably and acted strangely but knew this was not the true joy of the Lord.

The Lord is sovereign, not random or spasmodic and He is a God of order, not confusion. The joy of the Lord is not a feel good session or expressed just on happy endings and when circumstances go well. No, the joy of the Lord is very different from any human emotion.

The joy of the Lord produces what no other emotion can create because His joy is more than a feeling: it produces strength.

Nehemiah 8:10 says in the KJV, "Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

By nature, I'm melancholic so my temperament is not necessarily an outgoing, bright and sunny disposition. Some people have boundless energy and come alive with a flurry of activity. I like to take things slow, thoughtful and analyze every component to make meaningful connections to the purpose of an activity before I'm satisfied. Any unanswered question leaves me perplexed and frustrated. My down fall is to ask, "Why?" too many times!

Then the Lord used a very simple illustration. During a sermon on joy, a young woman came down the steps (the church is in a theater) to talk to her friend, mother or aunt, of which I'm not sure. She didn't bother to lower her voice and then turned and marched back up the stairs. She did this several times and at one point I was tempted to lean over and whisper, "Please, be quiet." Instead I focused on the speaker while my heart grumbled with impatience.

As I was leaving the church the Lord said quietly, "The enemy will use any number of things to destroy My joy." I agreed because of this woman's distraction, I felt irritable - by no means joyful. Of course I had to ask, "Why take away the joy?" The Lord answered, "If he can take it, you have no strength to stand."

My prayer, "God, please visit me with your true joy. I really want to know what it is to walk with a smile on my face - true joy - no pretense - because I need your strength!"