The Joy of the Lord

8/31/2020

John 15:11 “That My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”

What does having the joy of the Lord mean? It is a giddy feeling or happiness? Is it that feeling of being blessed or having a prayer answered? Chambers writes, “The joy of Jesus was the absolute self-surrender and sacrifice of Himself to His Father, the joy of doing that which the Father sent Him to do.” Wow! How many times have I related joy with surrender and self-sacrifice? I think this happens most often when you take on a role of parent or sometimes caregiver. There are definitely joyful moments in those situations, but it is rarely complete joy. True there is self-sacrifice, but I am not sure about surrender. Usually the caregiver takes on a role of capability and strength, not surrender. I know when I was both caring for my son when he was young, and helping to care for my mom after she suffered a stroke, I felt like I had to be the warrior and protector. Surrender was not a part of my vocabulary or thinking.

There is a song that proclaims “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” This is certainly not a joy that is about being happy or contented, it is about having complete faith in God and submitting to His will; for through Him comes our strength. Our joy comes from being rightly related to God. Jesus wanted each of us to have this joy of surrender. Chambers asks, “Have I allowed Jesus Christ to introduce His joy into me?” Have I? Certainly, overthinking and worry will steal this kind of joy from my soul, because it does not leave room for abandonment to God. So in this time of trial, I can find joy in my relationship with God. It is the only way.