In my #ChristmasChallenge#Post13 I mentioned there were three gifts we all need at Christmas. Love. Joy. Peace. #Post14 was about that first quality we all want: LOVE. I want to continue on that idea with a post about JOY.
Alexander Whyte was a British pastor from many years ago. He once wrote something that seems to become more and more true each year (or maybe each day?) in our world:
We tend to hang very heavy weights on thin wires.
What he meant by that is that many of us have a tendency to put the weight of our happiness on thin wires that may easily break. For example, I know of people-as I’m sure you do-who have put a lot of stock into their health. They eat right. They exercise. They go to bed at a decent hour for the right amount of sleep. They avoid smoking or being around it. They avoid alcohol (or do so sparingly). They get regular check-ups. But they also hear the dreaded “C” word that causes their world to come crumbling down. We have also watched as people have put the weight of their happiness on family, possessions, fame and fortune. We have also watched them crash and burn.
Have you ever watched the movie Titanic? (Yes it has one nude scene as Jack is drawing Rose. Skip over it.) Anyway, as Rose helps fill in the blank spaces of the sinking of Titanic, and as she tells her story of survival, she talks about Cal Hockley. He was a fictional character who thought money could buy love (at least Rose’s). As she recaps her life, Rose tells of how Cal took his life after the downturn took his money. And yes, it still happens.
Many of you know happiness and joy are not the same thing. Imagine the Christmas carol we sing: “Happiness to the world, the Lord has come.” Just doesn’t have the same ring as “Joy to the world.” 🙂
Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life, in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Joy is found in Jesus. Joy is found in His presence. I’ll close my thought with the lyrics from a song Chris Tomlin sings:
Joy, unspeakable joy/ An overflowing well, no tongue can tell/Joy, unspeakable joy, Rises in my soul, never let me go.
“Father, help me to know real joy. Help me to find that gift that far outstrips happiness of fulfillment. You have promised unspeakable joy. May it be mine and may those I love find it as well.”
Check out my fellow #ChristmasChallenge bloggers:
Diane and Hadarah
Ed at Word!
Love that Chris Tomlin song, Bill! And yes, may unspeakable joy be ours each and every day.
Blessings!
It’s so true! An old friend of mine said that happiness is fleeting, but joy is always in abundance!
Yep. There is no true joy without God in us. That’s why everyone else is trying to fill their souls from the outside. Kinda like trying to out run God… in the palm of His hand…