I Still Have Joy

So Tye Tribbett is the king of Christian crunk! His music takes the listener on an emotional thrill ride from the highs of life to the storms, all while encouraging and reminding us about God's faithfulness. He'll have you snotting and crying and praying and running and shouting and jumping and stanky legging for Jesus all in the same album! One of my favorite "feel good" songs from his Victory CD is "I Still Have Joy" because it reminds me that no matter what I'm facing, I still have the joy of God.

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.

Romans 15:13

Joy is a tricky word. It's often confused with happiness. In fact, most standard dictionaries and thesauri would list the two as synonyms. However, in the spiritual sense, these two words couldn't be more different. Happiness is a temporary state of elation. Much like being mad or sad, it can, at any time, without warning, change. Joy on the other hand is a sustaining source of hope. In the Spirit, to have joy is to have an unshakable faith and confidence in God. He can and will. He has and will continue.

You ever come across someone whose presence makes you smile? Not necessarily in a romantic way, but just a calming way. They walk toward your cubicle with a smile each morning. They walk into church and give you a "for real" hug. They wave to you every morning as you pull out of your driveway. Every time you see them, they ask about you and then take the time to encourage you. I have family members, co-workers, church members, and even students who are like this. THEY are the epitome of joy. Why? Because you'd have no idea the stress and strife they are enduring.

Their lives at any moment are in complete shambles, but they manage to stay hopeful in the promises of the Lord. It amazes me. People look at them in awe when they share their testimony. People are amazed by their current life situation. People have no idea how they keep it going every day, but they know. They know that God is on the throne. His reign is supreme. They know what the enemy means for bad, God can, does, and has turned around for good. They have joy in their hearts that life can't take away because it came from the Lord.

1 Peter 1:8 says that even though we haven't seen God for ourselves, we believe in Him and that fills us with an inexplicable joy. To be joyful is to bask in presence of God. He's omnipresent, so you recognize that He is everywhere. You feel safe and protected. That's a reason to have joy. To be joyful is to praise God in the midst of trials. It's hard, but we know that He is omniscient. He knows what's going on and is there for us while we endure. That's comforting. Comfort gives us joy. To be joyful is to lie in wait as the storm blows around us or rages within us because we know God's power. He's omnipotent. Nothing can stop Him, so whatever we are facing, He has under control. Joy says that if God did it for me once, He most certainly can do it again. Joy is living in constant gratitude to God for simply being Him.

Proverbs 10:28 says the prospect (hope) of the righteous is joy. Even when it seems so far away, joy is still in us as hope and trust in God! Someone reading this may have a hard time feeling joyful. That's okay. You don't have to smile to have joy. You can have joy in the midst of tears. You can have joy even though you are angry. You can have joy when others around you attempt to take it all away. That doesn't negate natural human emotion. God gave us those too. But when we abide in Him, He gives us joy in His presence and His promises. He is God. The Creator of the Heavens and the earth. The One who made us. The One who sustains us. The One who waits for us when we stray and pushes us when we tire. He is the One true and living God who loves us more than anything in the world. So much so, that He gave His Son to save us before any of us were even born! If nothing else, that is a reason to make a joyful noise. Be Blessed. XOXO