Archive from Consecrated to God (original)
Like many in this world, I search for something that seems so out of reach. A feeling that some say exists, but I can’t seem to find it. I find comfort in knowing that I am not the only one who searches for or has searched for this thing called “Joy.” C.S. Lewis wrote this during his search for Joy,
“Joy was not a state; it was an arrow pointing to something beyond all states, something objective yet unobtainable — at least during our earthly existence.”
He discovered this when he was an atheist. But it is a true statement – those who are not born-again Christians, redeemed by Christ’s blood, and are showered with His love, cannot understand what it means to have joy. They do not understand that Joy is a state you can remain in because Christ is Joy, and the Holy Spirit lives within you. Consuming you with all the things Jesus Christ is. The Fruits of the Spirit. That is where we are today, in the series of “The Trees.”
The Fruit of the Spirit: Joy.
Joy in Galatians 5:22 means chara (χαρά, ᾶς, ἡ), meaning joy, gladness, a source of joy.
Webster’s Dictionary defines joy as
- a feeling of great happiness
- a source or cause of great happiness: something or someone that gives joy to someone
- : success in doing, finding, or getting something
As humans, we have a hard time grasping what joy really is. We run after it, but in the end, “what does not satisfy when we find it, was not the thing we were desiring.” (The Pilgrim’s Regress) That idea of searching for something to fill a void is the spirit within us searching for God. When we find Him, we, as believers, like unbelievers, still struggle with staying with the Spirit, with walking with Him. Galatians 5:16-18 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.”
For me personally, I struggle with keeping my eyes on God, and filling my Spirit with the gifts that He gives (Fruit of the Spirit) me. NF, a musical artist, wrote in his song Paralyzed,
“I’m paralyzed
Where are my feelings?
I no longer feel things
I know I should
I’m paralyzed
Where is the real me?
I’m lost and it kills me – inside
I’m paralyzed.”
If I am not mistaken, those who are believers and even unbelievers have had or currently have these thoughts. I know I have.
So the question now is, how do we find Joy? How do we embrace Joy? Well, the Churchy answer is the best, it is that coming before Jesus, and asking Him for the joy, only He can give, to consume your heart. This is a fantastic answer, a solid answer, because if we seek Him, we’ll find Him, if we ask Him, He’ll give, and if we knock, He’ll answer. He will give the joy you seek, and He’ll give it willingly because without it, we cannot fully walk with and in the Spirit. C.S. Lewis wrote this, “I call it Joy…anyone who has experienced it will want it again…But then Joy is never in our power, and pleasure often is.” Meaning, we cannot sustain joy on our own, with our own personal power. No, it is given to us by Him who shed His blood and died for us. It is in His power that we can experience Joy. When we walk with the Spirit, we will receive Joy, “51 But they shook off the dust of their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. 52 And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.” Acts 13:51-52
16 Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be [a]spoken of as evil; 17 for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. 18 For he who in this way serves Christ is acceptable to God and approved by men.” Romans 14:16-18
Without Him, it is pointless. We try to find it through many different channels, never to be found, BUT through Jesus Christ Himself.
But beware – one must fully understand something. We must be faithful to Him to experience Joy to the fullest. If we depend on it to just make us feel good, that feeling will pass away much like the seed sown in the rocky soil, “19 When anyone hears the [a]word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is the one on whom seed was sown beside the road. 20 The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; 21 yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the [b]word, immediately he [c]falls away.” – Matthew 13:19-21
We must be faithful like the servant who had the five talents, “20 The one who had received the five talents came up and brought five more talents, saying, ‘Master, you entrusted five talents to me. See, I have gained five more talents.’ 21 His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful slave. You were faithful with a few things, I will put you in charge of many things; enter into the joy of your [a]master.’ “ Matthew 25:20-22
When times are dark, and you feel alone, remember this, joy comes to those who are faithful to Him, “22 Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. 23 Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to [a]treat the prophets.24 But woe to you who are rich, for you are receiving your comfort in full.” Luke 6:22-24
How do we find Joy?
The Lord gives it to us when we are faithful and ask Him. Because it is not in our power to find it, we can’t; only God gives it fully.
How do we embrace it?
Staying faithful to the Lord.
“5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we [a]proved to be among you for your sake. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia” (1 Thessalonians 1:5-7) “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, 2 [a]fixing our eyes on Jesus, the [b]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.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary [c]and lose heart.” Hebrews 12:1-3
Joy comes by way of a Savior. In order to have gladness, one must know the Lord Jesus Christ. Only through Him can we fully experience and understand what Joy truly means.
“The whole man is to drink joy from the fountain of Joy…” C.S. Lewis, The Fountain is Jesus Christ.
Your Monday Moment
What is joy to you?
How do you find Joy?
How do you embrace it?
How can I be praying for you?
Hopefilled Havice 
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