Joy Cannot be Stolen
Our world is full of rhetoric about “joy stealers.” We love to point the proverbial finger at basic life circumstances to accuse them of robbing us of our joy. We label things like stress, conflict, hardship, negative emotions, difficult people, and general society as being “joy stealers.” Our finger pointing is in vain, because joy cannot be stolen.
The blame game surrounding joy illuminates our greater struggle with personal accountability and a fundamental misunderstanding about the true nature of joy. Joy cannot be stolen, but it can be abandoned. Joy cannot be taken away from us, but we can stop relying on the joy that is in us.
Joy is not some unrenewable resource. It is not like there is a limit on the amount of joy in the world. Our Creator is the source of all joy. Joy flows from God into people and through people into the world. The best way to be joyful is to share joy. Rejoice by being a conduit of joy where you live, work, and play. Giving joy to others produces greater joy in us. Joy cannot be stolen, but it is enjoyed most when it is given away.
Joy is fruit or evidence of the Holy Spirit inside of us. When our joy is based on the reality of who God is, who we are in relationship to Him, what He's done, and what He's promised to do, then we have a joy that is firm and secure. Joy in the Lord cannot be stolen, but it can be neglected and devalued. Treasure your joy. Celebrate your joy. Share your joy. Rejoice!
Here are three common ways we tend to ignore our joy:
Busyness. Jesus did not come to give us a busy lives...He came to give us full lives. Rest in Him. Enjoy Jesus and TAKE time to actively rejoice. Watch your language…never say you are busy. Busy is a curse that we should never put on ourselves or anybody else.
Roaming thoughts. Take captive EVERY thought and make them obedient to Jesus. We do not control every thought that comes into our minds, but we do get to decide which ones stay. Pray. Put on the Armor of God every day. Pray for One…ask God to give you One person to share His love with each day. Pray for your family, neighbors, friends, and coworkers. When your mind starts to wander…pray. Put situations and people into God’s hands. Listen to God and trust Him.
Misplaced hope. What are you hoping for? Intentionally put your hope in the things God actually promised. Misplaced hope leads to perpetual disappointment. Disappointment tends to suppress our joy and dominate our emotions. Jesus never promised a trouble-free life, but He did promise to never leave us or forsake us. God’s presence is our hope and that hope never disappoints.
Be the joy of the Lord in your world. Claim God’s joy, cling to God’s joy, and exude God’s joy. The Lord delights in you…you are His joy. Make His joy complete by being joyful in your world.
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4-7 NIV)
