Where is the Joy?

     Amid the struggles like  the denial of self, the drum beat requiring humility, the self-deprecation; much daily sacrifice and long standing fear where is the joy of life from serving God? 

Why aren’t more people talking about their lives being happy and joyful while serving God? What is the focus? What is the incentive in this life that is positive, uplifting, that brings a smile to our face that is manifest in our daily lives in a practical way…

Honestly I have heard much from discouraged Christians who have articulated their reasons for serving God. The negative aspects are rather startling to read but in fact not surprising..See if you identify with some of these....

We feel weak.. can’t cope

We serve because we don’t want to go to hell….

We serve to meet the needs of a higher being…

We serve because we are afraid

We serve because we are in trouble

We serve because we are commanded to do so

We serve because we are like dogs at the master’s table

Because we are in deep despair

We deny our own nature

Are we compelled to smile through our tears and praise God even in our miserable lives?

So where, may I ask, is the joy in it all?

A man by the name of William Gurnall gives a valid reason why some Christians stop finding joy in serving God:

"The reason why many poor souls have so little heat of joy in their hearts, is that they have so little light of Gospel knowledge in their mind.” 

Well.. This is a bit judgemental and not particularly helpful but it has the ring of truth, at least to some extent….

But where is the Joy that we do not hear enough of? …..To the point people talk all of the time about the denial of self, the repression of our human nature, the sacrifice... But who talks about their joy in living, about their happiness as they serve God.. Can you see it in their eyes..On their face.. Can you feel it in their presence? 

Let's keep it simple....

From Singing…….Hymns are moving and inspirational… They make us joyful

Fellowship.. relating with like minded people gives us joy

Joy fills our heart as we remember the good things God has done through the people He has placed in our lives

 PHILIPPIANS 1:3-5, (Paul and Timothy)

"I thank my God for you every time I think of you; and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of the gospel from the very first day until now.

When I think about the people God has put in my life, who they are and what they’ve done, it brings me joy. Refuse to focus on the unkind words and hurts that have come to you from other people. Instead, spend your time thanking God for the people who have developed you, encouraged you, served with you, and you will have joy."

A sense of belonging brings us joy….. It helps us identify who we are…

The joy or satisfaction one gets from living according to his convictions.. Not being hypocritical or living a confusing life of contradictions….

Joy is the result of speaking with wisdom

PROVERBS 15:23, To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

Have you ever experienced a time when you were involved in a conversation, and suddenly you realized that God had given you wisdom to speak and there was no other explanation other than God was speaking through you? God’s desire is that every one of us who walks with Him would speak life-giving words to the people around us. When our words are filled with wisdom, it produces joy.

Teaching our family good values being a good husband,father,uncle...

Peace of mind brings us joy

Joy is produced by righteous hope

PROVERBS 10:28, The hope of the righteous brings joy… (ESV) For without hope we are hopeless and are in the deepest pit.

What is hope? For the Christian, hope is the anticipation that God will do something good! God has done good to us through His Son Jesus and He will continue to do good in more ways than we can count. Develop the habit of anticipating God’s goodness in your life, and you will have joy!

Love brings us joy…..

Living all things in moderation helps us keep life in balance

1 Timothy 4:2-5 ESV /  

Through the insincerity of liars whose consciences are seared, who forbid marriage and require abstinence from foods that God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and know the truth. For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

Embracing all that is wholesome and good keeps our lives on a peaceful track..

Philippians 4:4-9

"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned[e] and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you"

Relying on a power greater than ourselves takes pressure off of daily living and helps us accept the rocky times….. Joy is found in answered prayer

JOHN 16:24, Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full. (ESV)

Answered prayer brings joy, but you can’t have answered prayer if you don’t pray. And you won’t pray as much if you don’t have a prayer time! Making time to pray is key to making room for the joy that comes from a relationship with God!

We can reach out through Christ to help and forgive others which we could not deliver by ourselves….

We can look through our tears and count our blessings of which we have many.. If we open our eyes we can open our hearts and if we open our heart we can have a relationship with God…

Romans 6:17 

"But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin, yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered.  18 And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness."

To the extent that we nurture the light we diminish the darkness in our lives.. the opposite is also true…

The Bible has taught all along, serving God and others is a good thing and it has eternal rewards. Of course the main motivation behind our servitude is love. I am afraid that some view their Christianity as they view the jobs. They don’t really like their job, but they do it anyway because they need the pay check. In the same way some do what God tells them to do, not because they want to, because they just want to go to heaven. If we simply go through the motions of serving others or serving God without love, we are wasting our time. As Paul said:

1 Corinthians 13:1 

"Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal.  2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

God has never desired that we serve Him because we feel like we have to. Instead, He wants to find joy in serving Him and others. So, if we are not motivated by our love for God, then as Paul said it profits you nothing. True joy can only be had when it comes from love. We learn all about love from God Himself:

How do we learn of the Love of God and have a relationship with Him? 

Through the power of prayer…

John 4:18 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.  19 We love Him because He first loved us.  20 If someone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?  21 And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also."

Even if a person has never experienced love, they can read their Bibles and see what love is all about. God has shown His love for us in many ways: He created us and all the beauty we behold on a daily basis, He has been involved in our lives since the day of creation, He created us with free will, He made a plan of salvation for us that we could choose to follow or ignore. One of the greatest expressions of His love came from Him offering up His only begotten Son so that we could have salvation. It is also the source of our greatest joy…The gift of salvation...

In conclusion let us pray-

 Father bless this Bible Study and its tiny membership.

As we go forward open our eyes and guide us with your care..

Help us oh Lord to walk a path that is pleasing to thee.. 

Help us to be an example to others as we live our lives.

Heal those of us who struggle with health and disability or give us the direction that we may, with your blessing, understand the gifts that thou hast bestowed upon us so that we may affect the healing of our afflictions…

Help us to open our hearts, 

Help us to love and guide us to the Joy of living a righteous life…

We ask these things in Jesus name..

Amen