“My soul longs, yes, faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and flesh sing for JOY to the living God.” – Psalm 84:2
This weekend a precious friend, Julia Tarter, went to be with the Lord. As many reflect on her life and legacy, one word remains constant – joy. As I’ve remembered all my encounters with this beautiful young woman, I can’t help but ask myself – do I always remain joyful despite my circumstances?
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” – Galatians 5:22-23
“Count if all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:2-4
These two passages stick out to me concerning joy. If you have a relationship with the living God, you should exhibit joy as evidence of the Spirit living within you. Then James tells us we must consider it all joy – even when we face trials. Notice he leaves no exceptions here. That means be joyful when you lose your job. Be joyful even when you wreck your car. Be joyful when others reject you. Be joyful when your whole world seems to be falling apart. Be joyful in the face of death.
“Rejoice always.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16
This is a choice we have to make daily. Sometimes our circumstances make us feel less than joyful. But the Lord is faithful! He will give us joy if only we ask for it! We must choose to focus on him and not our surroundings. When you think of all the Lord has done for you, you can almost not help, but be joyful. When you choose to focus on him rather than your circumstances, you forget all that the world is throwing at you to bring you down. When you choose to rejoice daily, your whole perspective on life changes!
“I will also praise You with a harp,
Even Your truth, O my God;
To You I will sing praises with the lyre,
O Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You;
And my soul, which You have redeemed.” – Psalm 71:22-23
