A Rare Joy!

December 8, 2022

Rare Joy!

We were not sure we wanted to put Christmas lights along the railing on the deck behind our house or on the front of our house. 

Our reasoning went this way; 1) putting lights on the deck will not require a ladder (it is safer for both of us!), 2) putting lights on the deck will not cost as much money (fewer lights are needed!), and 3) putting lights would only be seen by people walking on the trail (less competition with the neighbors who go all out with lights!).

So, we bought two strands of lights and rather quickly zip tied them to the deck.  There was an electrical outlet next to one end of the light strand so we plugged in the lights.  Nothing happened!!!

You can imagine our disappointment.  We spent the money to have lights and we invested the time in attaching the lights to the deck railing.  We wanted to experience the joy of Christmas by putting lights on our deck.  However, the lights would not burn bright.

I know more than a few people who want to experience the joy of Christmas or the joy of life or even the joy of the Holy Spirit.  However, the joy rarely seems to burn brightly in their life.  Like the lights on our deck, I wonder if sometimes there is a loose connection that does not allow the joy to come.  For some the joy does come, but it does not last very long.

Our connection with Jesus is what releases joy in our Christmas, in our life, and in our spiritual life. 

When King David was overcome with guilt, shame, and regret he paused to pray.  When the King had disgraced himself, hurt other people, and could see no future, he paused to pray.  When the King was not sure he would be accepted for who he was or what he had done, he paused to pray. 

It is interesting that one of the things for which King David prays is joy.  In Psalm 51:12 David prays; “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and sustain in me a willing spirit.”  Joy does not always come just because we ask for it; sometimes we need to do something!

In the Psalms, we are reminded that when we gather for worship with God’s people joy is released in special ways.  In Psalm 95:1 we hear; “O come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation!”  Worship with God’s people is used by the Holy Spirit to release joy in our lives.

But living with a heart filled with the joy of the Lord is sometimes difficult.  Our connection with Jesus is occasionally disrupted by the moments when we are treated unfairly or when someone continually inflicts pain on us.

We are reminded of something Jesus said to His disciples.  In John 16:22 Jesus says; “So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.”  The joy the Lord gives is a joy that no other person can take away from us.

The Lord God desires our lives be filled with the joy of His love.  This is the meaning of Christmas.  In Luke 2:10 the angels speak to the shepherds outside of Bethlehem just before the baby Jesus is born in town.  The angels remind the shepherds; “Do not be afraid, for see, I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people…”

Jesus came as a baby in Bethlehem to show us the face of God, to offer us the gift of salvation, and to make great joy possible every day.  The Christmas lights on our deck are still not lit.  The truth is those lights might make me happy but they will never fill my heart with real joy.  Real joy comes in our relationship with Jesus.

In these days before Christmas, I invite you to do the things that will strengthen your connection/relationship with Jesus.  Maybe some time reading the Bible, attending a worship experience, taking some time to pray, writing a letter to Jesus, spending some time in silence, going for a ride on your horse or in your car will help you connect more deeply with Jesus. 

When the connection with Jesus goes deeper, your heart will be filled with delight in the goodness and grace and generosity of the Lord God.

Let me leave you with one of the Apostle Paul’s prayers.  In Romans 15:13 Paul prays; “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  May this pray be answered in your life this week!

Take Delight In The Lord!

Doug

P.S.  I encourage you to invite someone you know who may need a little more joy in their lives to join our blog community.