The Joy of Life!
Just what is the JOY OF LIFE? Some may say the joy of life is in all the wonderful moments we have absent the pain, but I would have to disagree. The real joy of life does not lie in the sweet times or the bitter times but rather in the survival of both.
The root of REAL JOY is never found in the present moment. You may experience JOY in this moment but its root is always found in looking back at your life and realizing that despite the sweet times or the bitter times you are what you are because of both.
As I look back on my sweet times it gives me a great sense of appreciation. It humbles me before a loving creator and makes me want to give back to the creation from which I came.
As I look back on my bitter times it gives me profound wisdom. What wisdom I have very rarely came from my sweet times. It was always the most bitter pills that made me look deep inside at who I am and the world around me.
As I look back on both sweet & bitter together it gives me JOY, knowing that all along the way I was being guided by a loving universe that has used all of my past moments to keep me moving where I need to be.
Yes, I have great JOY, but it’s even greater now that I understand what JOY really is.
YOU CAN NEVER KNOW THE FULL DEPTH OF LOVE UNTIL YOU KNOW THE FULL DEPTH OF PAIN. That’s why Jesus clearly is our PERFECT LOVE.
Whoo, I hear that!!!!!!!!!!!
Its funny that you would bring up the topic of joy , in just the past few days I have been thinking on the verse, The joy of the Lord is my strength. In my way of always understanding this, it pertained to just the joy of knowing Him and being in relationship with Him. Well I find myself seeing it in a little different light now, after all it is the joy of the Lord.
Heb. 12:2, speaks of Jesus who for the JOY set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Now this is a very strange thing to consider, if we see it in terms of the suffering and all that the cross held for Him.
This joy has to indeed be us, all of us, mankind , for Jesus knew the scope of all that would be included in the Redemption of the cross.
Now to say that the joy of the Lord is our strength, is it possible to see what He saw as His joy can also bring us hope and strength?
Maybe I’m out there a bit on this one, its just me having thoughts and wanted to share them with you.
Take care my friend.
Randy,
I think it is more then a fair connection. His joy was a result of both sweet and bitter, just like ours is.
Good thoughts. Thanks for sharing. My definition of joy has certainly changed over the years. I use to think I’d be happy if I just got this job or that house or the people around me would just behave the way I thought they should but I’m finding out it’s not about that at all. True joy does come from knowing deep down inside what a loving God we serve and knowing that He will see us through the bitter and the sweet. That all my needs will be met and that I don’t even know what I need to be happy but God does and He will provide.
Hi cliff it is strange how we have different views on what joy means to us.I liked how you and the others here see it and what it means to you’s.I see it as david seen it.he called it goodness and mercy, which followed him all the days of his life and he knew at the end of it all he would dwell in the house of the Lord forever. He knew that christ would appear in the presence of God our Father FOR US.
This is my confidence this is my joy.And not only for me,but for all of humanity.The undestanding of Gods gace in christ is our strenght and it is our joy.
Old things have passed away behold all things have become new.
Kenneth.
Cliff, it is good to see you come through some tough times with an ability to proclaim joy. Our joy is centered in the depth of a Fathers love and the demonstration of that love for us all through the cross.
Have a great day bro.
Great post and comments. I suppose joy is something we all perceive in different ways. I think of the verse Randy quoted saying Jesus endured the cross for the joy set before Him. I see the joy mentioned as the fact He knew after his sufferings on the cross, He would have purchased redemption for all mankind. He knew this would be so as He knew the perfect sacrifice required was Himself and He knew He would actually go through it and after having done this, He could rightfully say “it is finished”. If that was His joy, knowing the world would be redeemed, and the joy of the Lord is our strength, then our strength lies in His joy, which is knowing we are redeemed with the rest of the human race.
My joy comes from knowing I and the entire human race have been reconciled back to the Father. It is my rest and peace as well. It was and is the joy of the Lord and it is mine as well. I cannot see that He experienced joy because of the sufferings He knew were coming, but He did express joy knowing what the end result would be. My strength is in what gave Him joy as I know the end result as well. I am already seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.
I see what you mean, Cliff. And I see what others are saying about “joy” being something broader. Maybe joy manifests through many different avenues. Maybe there is a joy that is more physical (experiential) and one that is more spiritual. It is an interesting subject though, and hope we can discuss it further. I’m sure there will be many thoughts and ideas on the subject from others.
Absolutely Bruce, joy covers so much of what we are and we each relate from our own particular perspective. I have enjoyed all the comments and the different views. As we travel this great adventure our perspective continually changes as I suspect God intended.