Joy Abounds

There’s no question that the road of life is long. Sometimes that road is straight. Sometimes it’s long and winding. Occasionally a little bumpy. And depending on the season, you could find yourself stuck in a snow drift struggling to find traction on the ice that had formed overnight. The truth, you never really know what you might encounter on the road of life. There seems to always be something new around the bend. Some of it can be fun and exciting. Some of it’s sluggish and frustrating. So how do we maintain our composure as we travel this road? Scripture tells us to find joy in all things. But how is that possible when all of these things along the road bring about a variety of emotions? From the slow drivers, to the ice and snow making travel much more difficult. However, when we really break it down, there needs to be an understanding that joy isn’t about a feeling. Happiness will come and go like the rain and snow. But joy is something altogether different. Joy isn’t bound by the circumstances we find ourselves in. Joy isn’t derailed by snow drifts and traffic. Joy can’t even be stopped because we ran out of hot cocoa on a cold winter night. That’s because joy, true joy, comes from within. It comes from the light of Christ dwelling in your heart and soul. 

When the Israelites were prophesied to return to Jerusalem from exile, the road ahead seemed dark and bleak. But the prophet Isaiah had a vision from the Lord that those the Lord has rescued will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away (Isaiah 35:10 NIV). The people of Israel would return to Zion. That’s to say, they would return to the place where the spirit of God dwelt. And when they returned to His presence, singing would follow. An everlasting joy would be present in them and it would overtake the circumstances of the road they were on. Because of Jesus Christ, whom we celebrate in this season, the spirit of God lives in those who believe. We can be filled with and enter into His presence each and every day just as the Israelites people did when they returned home. Everlasting joy can overtake you in the midst of whatever you may be going through this season. It’s not found along the road. Rather it’s found in the one who came to dwell among us. Found in the Son that was given to us so that we might have joy abounding that overflows into our very lives and spreads to those around us. As Paul wrote to the Roman church, 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 NIV).

May the joy of Jesus Christ fill your hearts this week!