Where's Your Joy?
Photo by Erika Giraud on Unsplash
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
– John 15:11 (NIV)
Kids love to sing “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy.” That’s because after they sing “down in my heart” they get to shout “Where?” Well, of course … it’s down in my heart to stay.
But what if the joy isn’t down in my heart? What if I’ve lost my joy?
There are many reasons why joy goes AWOL. Maybe sadness robs us. Maybe loss grips us. Maybe pain grabbed joy’s hand and ran off with her. At any rate, she’s missing from our hearts today.
When life hands us lemons, it’s easy to say, “Make lemonade.” But sometimes our emotions put us in a chokehold, and we don’t feel like squeezing lemons. Forget the lemonade.
The basic source of my joy comes from my relationship with God. After Jesus spoke to His disciples about His role as the vine and their role as the branches, He said, “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11, NIV). I want to embrace Jesus more each day.
Singing during my prayer time always lifts my spirits. I love to sing the hymn, “I Must Tell Jesus.” He understands. He too experienced the loss of joy. So I tell Him how I feel and wait for His peace.
When my two young sons tried my patience, I sometimes sat at my kitchen table and prayed a psalm after I put them down for their naps. It's not hard to find a psalm that resonates with your heart. For instance, in Psalm 16 King David looks to God for refuge and looks forward to experiencing the joy of God’s presence where there will be pleasures forevermore. We can share his anticipation!
If anger grips our emotions, we can pray for God’s peace. Apologize to the person who is the object or our wrath and also to God. However, do not tolerate abuse. Perhaps professional help will be needed to resolve legitimate anger issues.
I've also found that when I'm feeling blue, I can talk to a trusted friend about my emotional state. And I can be that friend to others. I once made a "trouble box" and visited a friend who had lost her joy. I told her to dump her troubles into the box and we would forget them for the afternoon while we went to a movie. These days you might suggest playing pickleball together.
We also want to stay connected to our church community. Singing hymns, serving, and learning together bolsters the joy of Christians. Nothing better.
Our joy is rooted in trusting God. So the moment you feel it slipping away, pull it back with a prayer. And sing “I’ve Got the Joy, Joy, Joy, Joy.” That alone may bring joy skipping back into your heart to stay!
Questions for Reflection:
1. If you lack joy, which of the above suggestions will you try?
2. How might you help someone else find joy?
3. Which hymns or choruses do you find especially uplifting?
