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Partners in Joy
Posted By Katrina
My 8-year-old son tends to lean toward the melancholy side. One unpleasant event can color his entire outlook for the day…or even week! I remember a day several years ago when we had done all sorts of fun stuff — kid-pleasing activities from morning until night. Convinced that, finally, he’d have no choice but to admit that he’d had a 100% great day, I asked him, “So, today was pretty good wasn’t it?” I had anticipated an answer of, “YEAH, Mom! It was awesome!” What I got was, “Yeah, it was pretty good. But tomorrow will probably be bad.”
I have to admit, he comes by that melancholy trait honestly. I know this because it was passed down directly from me. When my husband tells me that the baby will probably feel better tomorrow, I reply, “I doubt it.” When the week has been damp and gray, I have a hard time believing that the sun will show itself tomorrow, no matter what the weatherman tells me. I know just how my son feels - it’s easy for us melancholy types to be convinced that doom - rather than deliverance - is waiting just around the bend. But just because we’re melancholy doesn’t mean we’re off the hook when it comes to 1 Thessalonians 5:16:
Be joyful always.
Boy, that’s a tough one. Always? Even when all my carefully thought-out plans have been trashed due to unforeseen circumstances? Even when I’m running on two hours of sleep because my baby couldn’t rest last night? Even when I’m struggling with heartache and confusion?
Well, it does say “always.” That doesn’t seem to leave us much wiggle-room, does it?
“Be joyful always” can sound like a truly daunting command. But I have good news: we’re not alone in this task. We don’t have to create some magical joy-manufacturing process out of thin air. We’ve got a helper - the perfect Helper, in fact.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…
- Galatians 5:22a
See that? Not “the fruit of me.” Not “the fruit of my great effort or determination.” But the fruit of the Spirit. If we will just align ourselves with the Lord and then get out of his way, he will actually plant, fertilize and bring to fruition his joy in us. What a relief!
We still have our part to do - we must be walking in step with his Spirit, submitting ourselves to his word, actively worshiping him. But when we open our hearts to his plan and will, he’ll do all the hard work — he’ll build joy (along with all of the other fruit of the Spirit) into our hearts. That’s great news for those of us who sometimes find ourselves struggling with that “always” part of “Be joyful always.” Which, as far as I know, isn’t just melancholies; I think it’s all of us, every now and then.
Dear Father, I just want to thank you for partnering with us in the creation and demonstration of joy in our lives. We know you’ve commanded us to be filled with joy, but we also see that you are both the source and the the creator of that joy. Help us to allow you to do your work in us, and to make us more like you. Amen.
For discussion: Has there been a time in your life when you’ve noticed purely Spirit-induced joy — a joy that could clearly only be from him, because there was no way you could have come up with it on your own?
Dec 27th, 2006
I am so glad my son has more of my hubby’s temperament. I am a worrier and my hubby is much more carefree. It is good that you can empathize with your son.
I am sooo grateful that the Spirit is our source of joy. For without it, our joy would be as fleeting as happiness.
My joy when I was very ill in my late teens and early twenties surprised many. But despite the pain and loneliness of longterm illness, I was joyful because I had my eyes fixed on eternity. My life verses were 2 Cor 4:16-18.
There have been definite times that the joy that was within was definitely put there by the Lord. In the natural, there should not have been joy but deep down I just knew it was God because I so could not have manufactured it up myself. I say a big “Amen” to your prayer.
I feel the most Joyful while leading worship- There is something about standing in front of a group of people and leading them into the presence of the Lord- watching their hands raise and their hearts cry out to their Father- For me, there is no other place I can imagine being that would bring my heart joy but right smack in front of my savior, praising Him with my whole heart.
Joy is not something we possess on our own, it comes from Christ- and with Christ all things are possible
Thanks so much for sharing today!
Heather
Oh, praise God yes. I was a gloomy gus as a child. My dad called me Sarah Heartburn. My oldest girl is my melancholy molly. Joy, for me, is a choice. And sometimes during hard times, God blesses me with joy. A scripture, a praise song, an encouraging word sent by a friend. All from God. I want my kids to really know the joy of the love of God as children. And not have to wait until they are an adult, like I did.
We’re waiting to adopt a baby and the wait has been LONG. I can honestly say Christ is filling me up with joy and making me appreciate the joy in my son. Through Him I have a positive attitude despite disappointment after disappointment. It’s been an amazing experience.
Terri
We’ve been waiting for over 9 months for Steve to finally be able to join the AF. It’s been a long wait! Along the way, it has been very difficult for us with all the temp jobs ending and hoping to find the next one. God has always come through for us, but it has been difficult to be joyful when we don’t know from week to week/month to month if we’ll be able to pay rent, etc. With a 8th month old, the worries increase. But God always steps in last minute and supplies our needs. God is amazing and in all honesty, we have so much to be joyful over/for.
Jesus
Salvation
Each other
A beautiful, healthy daughter
Family that helps as much as they can
What more can we ask for?!?!? God has done exactly what He said “supplies all our needs”; not our wants, our NEEDS.
Such a great reminder, thanks Katrina!
I also struggle with being joyful always…
Good reminder that joy is the fruit of the Spirit - a result of walking with him. Thanks for sharing!