Several years ago, while on a mission trip, someone spoke some truth into my life that was incredibly impactful. He saw something in me that I didn’t see yet myself, but from his words I would learn to grow into the concept that defines a huge piece of who God made me to be. He said something to the affects of this:
I used to think that you were so happy all the time because you were oblivious to the complicated things and the hard things of life. Yet, now I understand that that isn’t true at all. It isn’t an earthly happiness you hold, but it’s only because you’ve walked through hard things that you hold a joy that come from the Lord alone.
At the time I was just beginning to understand what true joy was. I was walking with the Lord after being healed of anxiety and depression; He was showing me what a true joy it was to be alive yet I hadn’t put words to it. This person did. God used him to begin my journey of comprehending joy as it is found only in Christ, as a fruit of the Spirit.
See the difference between happiness and joy is this: Happiness is temporary as it is found in earthly things, joy on the other hand, is everlasting as it comes only from God. This joy is something I’ve held dearly to me and, for the most part, continued to live in. My past showed me the low that life can be when Satan is holding you down, yet I was walking in the knowledge that God is greater than that. That He is our chain breaker.
In this last month or so I began to lose sight of that joy. I was keeping myself so focused on what needed to be done, on the stress, and the change, and the business, and to-do list, that I wasn’t finding joy in the journey. I was fundraising and working and getting ready to launch into the World Race, not allowing this to already be part of my journey. I was doing what I needed to do to follow God’s will in the future rather than seeing that what I was doing in the present is also part of God’s plan for me.
And as I was up early on a Thursday morning, for no good reason other than not being able to sleep due to stress and my mind racing, I sat with God. And He drew me to the verse that I was given those years ago when the Truth of joy was spoken over me. At the time of getting it I didn’t really understand it, although the words connected to me, the verse didn’t. I held on to the note somehow knowing that someday I would understand it though.
That day came! It seriously amazes me so the different things that God uses to speak to us. He is so amazing!
So I dug out the note, and the verse is this:
“You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands.”
Isaiah 55:12
Wow! I just hear God declaring this over me and my World Race. That I will take the joy I know I have received from Him and He will lead me in his peace, as I know I am one to stress and become anxious. He doesn’t stop there though- He will show me His creation in inexplicable ways. I will see mountains and hills and trees praising the God of the universe! I can think of nothing to find more joy in then the thought of that!
My journey began way back in December when I committed to the World Race. It includes buying gear and training camp and all the transition and yes, evening fundraising, my not so friendly close friend. But you know what? I’m finding joy in even that. Joy from Christ isn’t something that comes and goes, it is possible to remain in it constantly.
As a fruit of the Spirit we have the power to be joyful because we have received the Holy Spirit. Sometimes all we need to do is look up.
