Even in the midst of struggles there can be a joy, a joy that what we are experiencing is for more in Jesus. I didn’t experience it at the time but I do now in retrospect. When my father passed, I felt nothing but despair. But, over the decades God has given me many gifts and a different vision of this event. I now know joy in that my father is experiencing now what I wonder and pray about. He is seeing what the Father promises.
What can be so attractive about joy is that somebody sees in us who have joy something different, and it often causes them to ask, what is it? And then we begin to share the love of God.
This experience can come in big events, the death of a loved one or illness of a child. Or, in the day to day. Struggles at work weigh upon me but I know I am where I am because God has a divine purpose in my presence. The way I act in tough days or the words I say to others struggling or even how I push to help a member through their child’s dire illness makes a huge difference in the world. It may be just a small drop but it spreads and done enough, can become a great tsunami.
I certainly wasn’t happy through my daughter’s illness. Watching her struggle and suffer broke my heart – I would give anything to switch places. But. I did have an embedded joy. God was so close to me in those dark days, I felt it and it came out. Joy is so deeply embedded that the soul doesn’t try to show it, like one does for happiness. A joyful soul simply exudes this fruit. Others see it and taste it in their lives. And, a seed may be planted.
Come, Holy Spirit, overcome us, envelop us, come with a spirit of joy. Bring us the fruit of joy, joy that knows you are who you say you are, joy that accepts the difficulties and the trials of life but raises them to you. Scripture says that Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit when He had heard the disciples’ stories of power. May we rejoice in Your works, in Your goodness, in Your presence, and in Your love.
Don’t worry be happy? I say draw close to God, ask the Spirit for the fruit of joy and be joyful. It’s better than being happy.