A Journey Begins

Tonight I had the JOY of spending time with some wonderful girlfriends in a bible study. The topic, Joy and Praise. My dear friend Christina had us dive into the scriptures for a closer look at joy and what it meant to us. We referred to a conversation Christ is having with His disciples in John 16:16-24 and discover yet another time when Christ says something profound and the disciples look at each other and go, "what did He say?" My interpretation. Of course Christ, knows what they are whispering responds,

19 "Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, 'A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me'? 20 Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy. 21 When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. 22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.  (ESV)

What stood out to me, other than the birthing reference - after all, I am a woman; was when Christ stated that, "No one will take your joy away from you."  When I got home tonight I started thinking about all the times in my life I allowed someone or something to rob me of my joy. Too many times, I hate to admit which made me ask myself, why? Why do I let people or circumstances beyond my control, rob me of my joy? Simply put - I let down my guard and forget Who is in control. I take the focus off of Him and place it onto myself or others or the circumstance - all of which have let me down more than once in my life.

After this passage we moved forward to James 1:2-18. I encourage you to read all of it but I am only going to focus on verses 2-4.

2"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."  (ESV)

This passage is one I have read many times in my life but tonight I found myself clinging to the words as if they were water and I was dying of thirst. James states it clear as day, "when you meet trials." It is just a fact of life. We will meet trials of many kinds but our faith in Christ will allow us to persevere and overcome the situation. Not only will we overecome it but God will use it for something beautiful. We must keep our eyes on Him so that when we encounter these trials we can hold on to that joy and not let the person or circumstance steal it. After all, that is exactly what the enemy would want. He wants to rob us of our joy, the complete and perfect joy that is only found in Jesus.

As I wrap this up, I wanted to leave you with one final thought. What is robbing you of your joy? Is it a relationship, a job, a prayer that seems to go unanswered? Whatever it might be I encourage you to bow your head and give it up. Let the One who has conquered the world reveal HIS purpose for you, take that circumstance on His shoulders and replace it with a joy that no one will ever take from you.