Joy Unspeakable

There is something happening in America and it is not good. Have you noticed that peering out from those masked faces are increasingly blank, joyless eyes? The light has gone out in the faces of many, and COVID-19 is not all together responsible for all of it. 

By no means have all persons been Christians, but our culture has been permeated by the Christian ethos. It has been and continues to be slowly eroded and a swamp of emotions consisting of bitterness, vitriol, sullenness, hate, disdain, and indifference has emerged. A “whatever” mood prevails. Who cares?

Missing are those smiles, uplifting greetings, warm words, and positive verbal reinforcements. “Missing” is the operative word.

Ours has been called “an age of overt anxiety.” Worry has been termed the “official emotion of our generation.” It is the most pervasive psychological problem of our time. Worry robs us of joy. Worry is simply negative thought. It is pulling tomorrow’s clouds over today’s sunshine.

Who among us has not hugged a warm word of encouragement to our heart and brought it out on a dark day to let it light the way? Many who have formerly embraced the promises of God found in His Word are abstaining from it. Absence from the Word robs us of both hope and joy. Church closures have contributed to this cultural malaise. Optimism is considered a false euphoria in some quarters, naivety gone wrong.

You can be a kick-starter by getting into the Word and the Word deeper in you. Program your mind on it and it will show up in your disposition. Your temperament will all the more be tempered by it. If you read the Word and believe it I Peter 1:8 will be fulfilled in you: “…believing, you will rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.”

As you become a more submissive subject in His kingdom, then the “joy of the Lord is your strength.” How strong are you?

Chara, the Greek word for joy, means gladness or delight. Jesus was so full of joy that He was accused of being drunk. He was drunk, on love.

Remember “He, Himself, is our peace.” (Ephesians 2:14a)

Jesus gave us an antidote to the present social and moral crisis when He said, “These things have I spoken to you, that my joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)

A return to intimacy with the Lord and His Word is a return to joy, gladness and delight.

Make a daily plan that provides time to read, study, and resolve on how to apply God’s Word. The resulting blessing is worth the effort.

Oh, joy!