The Source Of Our Joy

I admit joy is something I don't experience very often. Perhaps it's my melancholy nature or how I measure joy based on how well my day is going.

Still there is a true joy that produces strength even in the most difficult and trying times. Shortly after the Israelite captives returned from Babylon to Jerusalem they heard the law read to them. They deeply grieved and mourned at the words that had pronounced judgement on the land and the people of God.

They would have missed the fact they were now in the early stages of restoration. They had returned to the Promise Land after seventy years as prophesied by Jeremiah. They were rebuilding the temple. This should have brought joy to them. So Nehemiah stopped the funeral like procession by saying, "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."

There is a holy sorrow that comes from true repentance but it will always lead to salvation. Paul writes, "For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (KJV).

Sadly, some believers get caught between the extremes of not experiencing a holy grief over sin and of those who can't stop mourning over their sins. There is a balance between sorrow and joy that the Lord works in equal measure in our life. The end result is a deepening appreciation and joy of salvation. Understanding of course our salvation is a result of our Savior not of our own self made efforts to deliver ourselves.

James writes (reading from the New Living Translation): "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy." (James 1:2). Beloved, there is a rich, untapped joy of the Lord that goes beyond the superficial or optimum conditions. The joy we are speaking about is not an euphoric feeling when having a good day or when we raise our hands in worship on Sunday morning. No, the joy that I speak of comes from a deep abiding revelation of God's heart.

When the Lord provided water in the wilderness the Israelites sang, "Spring up, well--sing to it!" (Numbers 21:17). Likewise we remember the woman at the well. Jesus sat on the well (hindering in some way her obtaining the natural water) and directed the woman to Himself - the living water for the thirsty and broken like herself. In the end, she drops her cup to run back to the village to tell them all Jesus had spoken to her. This woman's joy sprang from a revelation of God's love for her.

There is joy to be found in the heat of the day. Joy in our hour of temptation and trials. Joy while holding the hand of one we love who is dying of cancer. Joy when the deadlines mount at work. Yes, there is joy to be found when the Lord opens our eyes like Hagar who ran from her mistress. There in that place the Lord provided her and Ishmael fresh water. "So that well was named Beer-lahai-roi (which means "well of the Living One who sees me"). It can still be found between Kadesh and Bered." (Genesis 16:14, NLT).

God opens our eyes to see the God who sees us in our present condition and in our joylessness state. At that moment everything changes from a place of sorrow to joy of unspeakable. We are loved. We are cared for by a good Father. He sees me just as I am and still He loves me so much He is willing to save me. Now, that brings joy to any troubled heart!