Joy
I’ve been thinking about joy the last few days. Wondering…am I joyful, not happy, but joyful? I’m happy when my alarm doesn’t go off on a Saturday morning and I can sleep in. I’m happy when my husband says, “I’ll cook dinner tonight.” Happiness is tied to a moment. Joy goes deeper than an event or a feeling. I want joy. I don’t want to be happy because an external event made me happy. I want to be joy filled and joyful. I like contemporary music, but sometimes, nothing beats an old hymn. Ode to Joy came to mind as I was contemplating this theme. The lyrics are pretty much ingrained in my memory as we sang this a lot growing up.
Joyful, joyful
We adore Thee
God of glory
Lord of love
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee
Hail Thee to the sun above
Melt the clouds of sin and sadness
Drive the dark of doubt away
Giver of immortal gladness
Fill us with the light of day
Interesting that the writer of this hymn compares the heart to a flower. For the flower to spring forth, its buds must unfold. Clouds and darkness prevent the flower from displaying its true beauty. And sin, sadness and doubt prevents the heart from doing the same. If the heart is like a beautiful flower which is to burst forth in splendor for others to see, and the heart houses the Holy Spirit, then God’s characteristics along with the fruits of the spirit (specifically joy), should dwell within each one of us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” So our hearts should be bursting forth with joy!! So is it?
Honestly, I can’t say that mine is all the time. I want that, though. I really do want to be joyful and bursting with His joy. As the hymn points out, a heart with clouds and darkness may not be able to shine. So what are the clouds and darkness that prevents my heart from unfolding? Working on that, I hope. Trying to seek guidance from the Lord as I look deep within my heart, asking He who knows me best- what needs to be melted away?
As I dig through scripture, I find that joy is mentioned over 200 times. I’m drawn to the Psalms. Psalm 28:7 “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.” Strength, Trust and Praise; and then I am Sustained… Psalm 51:12 “Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Perhaps it’s just that simple. I must stop relying on my own strength; trust Him in all things; let my heart sing praise instead of anything else; and rest in His sustaining care. And with that, I do believe that the clouds will lift and our hearts will be filled with “immortal gladness” and we would burst forth with joy!!
Joy was the word of the year this year! Many people told me that their new year’s resolution was to “find my joy,” and was feeling the same calling. Even multiple die-cut companies had a “Joy” product. It was in my psalm yesterday (119:111) “Your statues are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.”
I distinctly remember the first time I thought of Jesus my savior and felt my heart soar. I knew then that I had finally reached a new level of love and intimacy with Him. I think of that feeling when I think of JOY.
Thank you for the beautiful entry!
Thank you Ingrid for so eloquently describing joy in the heart – yes a soaring heart!!
Quite a few years ago the Lord revealed to me where I lost joy in my life. It was the result of trauma during my younger years when my brother died and my family was lost in grief. Once that was uncovered and healed by the Lord I now am able to praise Him even in the storms of life because I know I am His and His joy lies deep within my heart. It was always there but I had unknowingly covered it up.