Joy, Where Are You?

Identifying Joy

The wind rustled the tree leaves as I wrestled with this revelation.  It was then the great Spiritual teacher posited a question in my thinking:

“Do you know how to identify true Joy?”

Initially offended by the suggestion, I stood defiant.  To make such a suggestion was insulting.

“Of course.” I said to myself, “Everyone knows what joy looks like.”

Examples came to mind – the great joy when two people make a commitment to one another in marriage or the birth of their first child. There is that moment of celebration as a child graduates with a cherished degree or the victory of championship in an athletic competition where joy is abounding.  But immediately, my mind moved to the heart of a child devastated by the news that his parents have decided to divorce.   And what of the hospital bed where the grief of a dying loved one results in great sorrow.  The reality of this coexistence was undeniable – it was everywhere.  The presence of joy and sorrow was defined by circumstances, and I had experienced both.  But it seemed that sorrow had a dominating effect.  While for a time I could be experiencing joyful circumstances, I knew that around the corner, hiding in the dark was a scenario waiting to unfold that would flood my heart with sorrow.  It was as if the anticipation of sorrow rearing its ugly head squashed any ability to truly experience joy. I felt totally under the control of my circumstances which were in fact outside my control.  Acknowledging such a conundrum left me dazed.  But the Holy Spirit was only beginning the examination.  The test continued as the opening words of James’ epistle came to my thinking.

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

What?  How could I possibly be joyful amid a trial?  From the world’s perspective, this conclusion made no sense whatsoever.  Normally, we aren’t seeking joy when enduring trials in this life; rather, sometimes we are just hanging on, riding out the storm hoping that everything will turn out alright on the other side.  But the great teacher continued amplifying my perplexity with words from the Apostle Paul.  Providing a heartfelt reflection on the trials of the ministry in the second letter to the Corinthians, Paul captures this conclusion:

… as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things.

2 Corinthians 6:9-10

Paul, a faithful servant of God, experienced unimaginable trials and tests yet was able to experience a faith inspired rejoicing amidst the punishment.  Considering the words of both James and Paul, I was left bewildered at the concurrence of what appeared to be mutually exclusive responses.   The maturity of my faith in these matters was tested.

I looked again to the blue sky observing the birds moving in a circling pattern seeking an updraft that they might be effortlessly lifted to greater heights. In humility, I faced the reality that the ability to identify true Joy was elusive.  Facing this moment of discouragement, I longed for God to swoop underneath lifting me up to an understanding that was beyond my own ability.   I confessed to spiritual ignorance – blind to the Joy which radiated from the character of God.  I had failed the examination and now it was time to listen for further spiritual instruction.

The Lesson

God graciously revealed the deception in my heart – that I pursued a temporary, worldly joy that was intimately linked to life’s circumstances.  I could claim a measure of joy when there was alignment with my desired outcome.  But when things turned against me, Sorrow was there as an unwelcome companion.   With this revelation of my misguided understanding, the Holy Spirit presented the clearly rhetorical question:

“Is Circumstance truly the source of Joy?”

With an avalanche of conviction, I faced the reality that my definition of joy was imprisoned by the need to control circumstances.  I longed to create an environment of peace and happiness that would soothe the soul, bringing rest and relaxation, excitement, and pleasure.  But such joy was fleeting, driven into submission when my unwelcome companion Sorrow returned.  It was like riding in rough seas – the crests of joy followed by troughs of sorrow.   The enemy reinforced a misguided pursuit of temporary joy highlighting moments of calm when I would deceptively conclude that circumstantial control had been re-established.  But the temporal experience of such joy was exposed when the rogue waves of despair made their disruptive return.

Later that evening, I settled into my office chair reflecting on the day’s events. Leafing through a resource from my library, an insightful explanation emerged which was not happenstance. 

“The joy which the people of God should possess is holy and pure.  This joy rises above circumstances and focus on the very character of God.  The joy required of the righteous person is produced by the Spirit of God.  This kind of joy looks beyond the present to our future salvation and to our sovereign God who works out all things for our ultimate good, which is Christlikeness.”¹

It became clear that the path to true Joy was found not in a situational outcome but in the pursuit of a relationship with God who was sovereign over all situations.  But how was I to apply this conclusion as I pressed on in this life?  It seemed clear that the Holy Spirit was trying to demonstrate the need for an eternal perspective.  Even as I walked this earthly plane, my focus, desires, and goals were to be in the heavenly realm.  Jesus’ teaching made it clear His kingdom was not of this world, that we should “do life” in light of eternity.  It was vital to understand and embrace the truth that this life is not the end but the means.  By God’s provision, this sojourn was a passage back to a relationship with God.  He orchestrated earthly circumstances designed for character molding and shaping that I might reflect Him to an ever-increasing degree.  I needed to embrace the truth that God is my Father, and I am His son.  This lesson from the great teacher was forcing an encounter of the soul – did I truly believe such a conclusion. 

With this teaching context, the life testimony of the apostle Paul resonated – a man who suffered greatly as a servant of God, refusing to deny his love and commitment despite his earthly trials.

And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

Romans 8:28-30

Jesus made clear that those who wished to be His disciples would be called to sacrifice.  They must deny themselves, take up their cross and follow (Lk 9:23).  They must be willing to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matthew 6:33), to pursue the things above where Christ is (Col 3:1), and to store up treasures in heaven (Lk 12:20). The challenges in this life are the means of growth in Godly character – the laying up of treasures in heaven.  Joy is found in the hearts of those who are committed to God, possessing a desire for a deep relationship with our Father – undeterred by worldly attractions, often sacrificing much in a faithful walk with God. 

Consistent with the love demonstrated in “But God…”, His only Son took on human form to fulfill the plan of salvation conceived before the foundation of the world.  The greatest Rabbi did not merely leave verbal instruction but gave the superlative demonstration of that to which He called his disciples.  As recorded in Hebrews 12 

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the  author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 12:1-2

And what does it say of Him but “for the Joy set before Him” he endured the full wrath of God for the sins of men.  In obedience to His Father, Jesus humbled Himself taking on the form of a servant in the likeness of man.  At the divinely determined moment in history, which was coincident with the Passover celebration, here stood the unblemished lamb, condemned by Pilate, now prepared to face the most agonizing and tormenting moment in all of history – to become sin, rejected by His Father.  Soon the words of abandonment would flow from His mouth, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me”.   To be sure, it wasn’t the punishment on the cross that was Jesus’ fear for mere men have endured such trials. No, the severing of the divine relationship, the darkness of His Father’s absence, and the wrath of judgment for sin inflicting an ineffable agony – that was His crushing moment.  Indeed, physical death was a necessary step of completion in this divine plan of salvation.  The blood of the lamb of God on the altar completed the atonement.   As demonstration of an acceptable propitiation for the sins of man, the Father called Jesus from the grave on the third day.  With His work completed as directed by the Father, Jesus sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  It is from such a position of authority that He will rule and reign for all eternity.  The Joy of accomplishing His Father’s plan, the Joy of defeating the evil one, and the Joy of purchasing salvation that all who believe in Him that they might dwell in His presence for all eternity – that was the “Joy set before Him”.  

I am called to stand firm as Christ’s ambassador, to endure trials in this life of various kinds but remain focused on the eternal joy that will be mine which no circumstance can deprive.  Joy is found in my faith in God, the promises of God, the hope I have in God.  Pastor Paul Washer said:

“I don’t have to know why God is doing what he is doing.  I just have to know the God who is doing the doing and trust Him that in all circumstances He is at work, that His attributes define Him as trustworthy and therefore like Paul, I can rejoice in all circumstances because I know who it is I serve.“

The promises of God flow like a river giving hope of an ultimate eternal dwelling, free from the trials of this temporary earthly existence, not limited by the shackles of this fleshly inhabitance.  But for a bit longer I continue walking with God in the flesh, standing firm against the enemy in trials and tribulations knowing that my faith is being refined as by fire.  Sorrowful yet rejoicing, I know that in His providence my character is being molded and shaped for His glory and my gain. From this gracious work in my inner man, there emerges a blossom of maturing faith which yields the fruit of “Joy”.   Rejoice that my Father is the sovereign God of the universe.  Rejoice that I have been called to be his child adopted into the family.  Rejoice that all things work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purposes.  Rejoice, true “Joy” has been found!