The Gift of Joy

     Joy is defined as the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something good or satisfying; it is the expression or display of glad feelings.

     Too often, we allow our joy to be stolen because we do not feel that good or satisfying feeling we think must come with joy.  Personally, I think joy comes from the indwelling spirit of the Lord living within.  I like the prayer of Habbakkuk who said that “although the fig tree shall not blossom…and the fields shall yield no meat;…Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

     Throughout our life we may be robbed of possessions and health, but we are in control of our joy.  It cannot be stolen unless we allow it. 

     How many times have you walked into the workplace in a cheerful mood only to be confronted with a sour attitude or expression from a fellow co-worker or friend, and it just messed up your whole day?  Your smile went away, and you took on their attitude.  You listened to their groanings, and then you began to grumble with them.   Why did you allow it to happen?  Did your joy get stolen?   That joy you had was in your possession; you were the one in control.  That joy was yours to keep. 
     How many times have you been in a room full of people who were laughing and talking, and then someone disagreed with a comment you made.  Did you grit your teeth, frown, and let your laughter go by the way-side?  Or did you accept the comment for what it was- their opinion, and continue to maintain the joy that was actually in your heart?    

     Keep in mind that if you are waiting for all to be right and your life to be void of problems, before you allow joy to enter your heart, you will be in for a long wait and an unhappy life. In Act it says, "...that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, ..."
     I pray that when troubles come my way and the tears roll down my face, I will still have the joy in my heart that God so graciously gifted me.  It is a gift of love which I never want to allow someone or some event or some loss to steal away from me. 

 Psalms 118:24  This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.”