A FINAL THOUGHT on this thing called JOY!

Throughout this month’s posts we’ve looked at several factors that surround this sometimes elusive thing that we call “joy”. Last week in this blog I focused on the link between our “perspective” and the overall condition of joy in our lives. Our perspective is a key component when it comes to the level of joy we experience in this thing called life. Why? Because no one ever promised that life would be a “rose garden”!

In fact, Jesus in one of his final earthly discussions with those who followed said...

“Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows.” (John 16:33b)

The reality is, we all can relate to these words of Jesus because all we have to do is live a little bit of this thing called life to realize that we encounter challenges and struggles. This is why our “focus” or our “perspective” is so important to living a more joy-filled life.

The Apostle Paul was able to write many of the words that we’ve looked at this month because he placed his focus on the fact that God was with him in this thing called life. Paul also understood that God cared about what happened to him and that God wanted to hear from him in good times and bad. That is why he was able to write these words found in the fourth chapter of his letter to the people of the first century...

“Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God's peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus."
(Philippians 4:6-7)

Imagine never being “anxious about anything” or “worrying about anything”!

That seems like an impossibility doesn’t it? We all have worries on the job, in our homes, at school, or wherever we find ourselves from time to time. But Paul’s advice is to turn our worries into prayers. In other words, what Paul challenges each of us to do, is to shift our focus once again! He challenges us to focus on God and His concern and care for us rather than the circumstances that loom before us!

"Do you want to worry less? Do you want to have more joy in life?"

Then Paul says what you need to do is to pray more! Whenever you start to worry, whenever you start to get that uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach that comes with the stresses of life, stop and pray. Take the time to turn over to God the things in your life that are causing you to live with more stress and less joy!

Now, when we follow this direction in our lives, Paul tells us that we will experience God’s peace, which is different from the peace that the world offers us. True peace is not found in positive thinking, in absence of conflict and circumstances, or in good feelings. It comes from knowing that God is in control and that He cares for us. It is that kind of peace in all situations that allows us to live with more joy, regardless of what might be happening in our lives.

If you want to live a more joy-filled life, then you might want to take Paul’s advice when life’s struggles come knocking, and that is to stop and turn it all over to God. Turn your focus back to the One who cares, who wants to hear from you, and who wants you to live life with overflowing joy!

Till we chat again,

Rev Trev