Not A Quick Fix

Psalm 16:11 “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.”

Romans 15:13 “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

John 17:13 “I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them.”

Think

Welcome to the age of instant gratification, where everything from pizzas to vacuuming can be summoned at the touch of a button. It's easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of quick fixes and microwave solutions, believing that joy, too, should be readily available at our fingertips. But it's not that simple.

According to John Calvin, joy is more than a fleeting moment of happiness; it's "eternal stability." It's a profound confidence in the goodness and wisdom of God, an unwavering assurance that he provides for us through thick and thin.

In his final prayer, Jesus didn't ask for his disciples to experience joy sometime in the distant future. No, he prayed for them to have his joy now, amidst the chaos of rush-hour traffic, screaming kids, and a world that seems to be growing darker by the day. Jesus wants us to revel in joy without waiting for Heaven.

But this joy, as described by Jesus, serves a purpose beyond personal contentment. It has a divine mission: to reveal him. His desire is for our joy to overflow, to declare his victory over life's most challenging conditions—whether it's hurricanes, plagues, nuclear disasters, or cancer.

Joy isn't a quick-fix pill; it's more like a lifestyle, a deliberate choice. God has equipped us with beliefs and practices that anchor and sustain our joy. These practices are meant to nourish our joy and help it withstand the storms of life. Joy, it seems, is something we cultivate and nurture, not just something we stumble upon in the haste of our microwave culture.

Apply

Read James 1:2-4. Joy doesn’t depend on our circumstances. Consider a difficult situation you are facing and ask God to help you see it through the lens of joy. Trust that he is using it to strengthen and refine you.

Pray

Jesus, thank you for being my source of joy. Help me to choose joy in the midst of trials, and to find joy as I serve others. Guard my heart from negativity and anxiety; fill me instead with your peace that surpasses all understanding. In Jesus’ name. Amen.