I have been told that I’m a fairly pleasant person. I’m pretty good with a joke or a sarcastic quip, and have been referred to by at least one co-worker’s child as “the funny one” in the office. It hasn’t always been this way, and there is photographic evidence that I spent quite a lot of my childhood crying. (That’s a different story for a different time.)
Once I really started to change my focus, read Scripture, and listen to great hymns and contemporary music based on Scripture, I began to realize so much more about the joy of the Lord. I am a member of a women’s organization, and one of the years I was responsible to choose a theme for the year. My theme was “Season the Journey with Joy.” This organization is not a Christian organization, but I wanted to try to emphasize to the women in it that this journey that we are on is one of joy.
Has there been joy in my life? Most certainly! Blessings and mercies poured upon my sin-filled life more than I can ever count. God is so very good to me. Have there been sorrows and trials? Oh very much indeed! Sorrow where my broken heart cried out to the Lord asking “why,” or trials where I’m just at my end and don’t understand how to take another step.
One of the best phrases in Scripture is “But God.” It’s a phrase that is used for our good and also for correction, but is it a fantastic and joy-filling-your-heart kind of phrase? “But God” allows us to know that he is in control and has a plan for our journey through life.
Sometimes a situation arises that is just so frustrating that you want to talk to your best friend and just vent. Has this ever happened to you? Before realizing that venting and complaining was going to only momentarily make me feel better, I would do just that, and for a while I would feel justified and almost righteous…But God!
God showed me the error of my ways and that I need to know and realize that he is the very best friend to vent and complain to. More often than not, the Lord will put into my heart one of those songs based on Scripture or a hymn, and I will realize how I can focus on him and find real joy. The enemy knows my weaknesses and tries to drag me into despair, uncertainty, fear of man…But God! God will again point me to him, my solid rock and my foundation.
I would encourage you to see the joys in the journey that we are on. The joy we have though our hearts are broken and our eyes can cry no more tears. The joy and the mercy and the everlasting and steadfast love that the Father pours upon his children. And remember: “But God!”
“I will extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up and have not let my foes rejoice over me. O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me. O Lord, you have brought up my soul from Sheol; you restored me to life from among those who go down to the pit. Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” (Psalm 30:1-7)
