Joy to the world the Lord is come
Let earth receive her king
Let every heart prepare Him room
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and nature sing
And heaven and Heaven and nature sing. Isaac Watts
So what are our thoughts when we think of Joy? The dictionary defines it as “A feeling of great pleasure and happiness” or an “emotion of well-being and delight”
However, the Bible shows that there is a much deeper perspective for the believer and whilst our happiness may often depend on our immediate circumstances, we can still experience joy in whatever situation we might find ourselves in. The letter to the Hebrews talks of Jesus as being the pioneer and perfecter of our faith looking beyond the pain and shame of the cross because of joy of returning to His Father and sitting down at the right hand of God’s throne.
James’s letter invites us to:” Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” (James 1:2-3)
As a practical example, we see in the Acts of the Apostles, how Paul and Silas having been arrested, beaten and chained in prison, were able to pray and worship God.
In these examples, joy was possible not because of the circumstances but rather in hope of a deeper or greater benefit. For James, this was the enrichment of the believer’s character. For Paul and Silas, it was because they were seeing God working through their ministry. For Jesus, he was looking beyond his immediate suffering to the joy of returning to be with his Father in Heaven.
Each year I remember the first time I joined in singing Christmas carols as a new Christian and being filled with surprise and real joy at the amazing truths that were contained in their age-old lyrics. Although I had sung these same carols many times before coming to faith, they had previously been sung without the Holy Spirit and His inspiration. Their words offered me a new future and a hope which went beyond my circumstances.
In this Christmas season we may experience joy in many ways. We may find pleasure, happiness and delight as we enjoy times with our friends and family. However, if have are suffering loss, pain, trials and difficulties we can ask God to help us to look beyond the immediate circumstances and take joy in how these things are building our character, deepening our relationship with God and fitting us for a future in a heavenly kingdom.
We may not be able to change our circumstances but we can certainly ask God to fill us each day with His Holy Spirit whose fruit includes Joy! Jesus invites us to prepare a place for God in our hearts and to receive him as our king and so to be filled with his joy.
As Peter wrote “Though you have not seen him, you love him. And even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy”.
Steve Horton
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