Spark Joy

Oct. 21

Read: Ezra 6:19-22

Spark JOY

“And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with JOY, for the LORD had made them JOYFUL…” (v.22)

Have we forgotten that part of following the Lord is being “joyful”? What if it is actually the Lord who makes us joyful? Joy is, after all, the second fruit of the spirit listed right after love! (cf. Gal. 5:22) What if this joy is available to us through the Lord, and all we need to do is ask, obey, and receive?

A great deal of effort has been given towards trying to empty biblical joy of all “happiness”. People write articles, preach sermons, and teach classes telling others that “joy” and “happiness” are two different things. I am not so sure that we see that played out in the scriptures. There is no such thing as “grumpy joy”! * The words happy, glad, joy, and rejoice (in their various forms) are used in parallel and interchangeably throughout the bible. Take for instance Jeremiah 31:13

“Then shall the young women rejoice in the dance,

and the young men and the old shall be merry.

I will turn their mourning into joy;

I will comfort them, and give them gladness for sorrow.”

What sort of picture does this description paint? Does it look like there is a strong distinction between rejoicing, being merry, having joy, and receiving gladness (happiness)? When we realize that gladness / happiness and joy / rejoice are linked, then we see that there are a multitude of verses that put gladness and rejoicing (happiness and joy) together as emotions that are synonymous and linked to one another. So what? What is the significance of this?

The answer is NOT that you will never be sad, tired, worn out, or hurt… but that the Lord is willing and able to meet you in those moments to bring you JOY and HAPPiNESS. I think we forget that it is possible to have multiple emotions at the same time. Emotions are NOT a “zero sum” sort of game. Emotions compete with one another. Emotions ebb and flow. We manifest and show our emotions on the outside in different ways. This is why James can say, “Count it pure joy my brothers who you face trials and tribulations of every type…” (James 1:2) Joy in the midst of sorrow given as a gift from the Lord who is the one who makes hearts happy and joyful.

The people of Israel in Ezra 6 celebrate the Passover with one another at the completion of the Temple’s rebuilding. This is a memorial to God’s deliverance and rescue from Egypt. One of the pathways to a joyful heart is intentionally sitting down and remembering all the ways that God has rescued you… it is looking back and remembering the work that God has already done in your life. This is what the Passover celebration was for Israel. This is what preceded the “joyful hearts”. When we find ourselves lacking joy, we should respond by fighting for the joy that comes from the Holy Spirit and from the Lord. (Not all happiness and joy is God’s happiness and joy… take a look at Solomon and Ecclesiastes for more on that.) When we stop to remember what we have been saved from, and what we are saved TO (eternal life, joy, the resurrection, the new earth) Then we are cultivating joy and happiness… even in the midst of sorrow. God is not afraid to allow you to be happy. In fact, God find great joy in granting happiness and joy in a lasting way to his children.

So would people describe you as “joyful”? Is it genuine? Have you been made to feel “guilty” if you are happy because someone has made “happiness” the realm of the world and taken it away from God? Happiness is not always carnal… neither is joy. The world tries to offer its brand of happiness/joy as much as God grants his people lasting happiness and joy. Which are you seeking… taking hold of? Take some time to fight for joy today. Take sometime to celebrate what God has saved you from and what he is calling / “saving you” to. Ask to experience HIS joy… he will give it to you. Love you guys. - JDP

*The same Hebrew word / root is translated joy / rejoice