Joy in the Midst of a Crazy and Turbulent World - CG Beautiful You Women’s Ministry

Have you ever noticed; when God starts working something on the inside of you, the enemy immediately comes to try to steal it away. That is what the enemy does. He comes to kill, steal, and destroy. (John 10:10) God has been stirring in my heart the truth about joy. One moment, I would be thinking about the joy of the Lord and His goodness. The next moment, I would find myself frustrated or irritated. Sometimes it was something little that would get on my nerves. Sometimes, it was thinking about all our world has been and is facing right now. Sometimes it would be fretting about what tomorrow might bring.

I don’t know what tomorrow may bring, but what I do know is God’s Word will never fail.

We can count on Him. We can lean into Him. Look at Luke, chapter 2 with me. It is where we often go to read the Christmas story. In verses 8-12, we read:

There were sheepherders camping in the neighborhood. They had set night watches over their sheep. Suddenly, God’s angel stood among them and God’s glory blazed around them. They were terrified. The angel said, “Don’t be afraid. I’m here to announce a great and joyful event that is meant for everybody, worldwide: A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master. This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.” (Message)
Luke 2:8-12

The angels brought great news that still rings true today. A savior has come. Ponder that thought for just a moment. A savior has come. He came to offer us the greatest gift we could ever have: A relationship with God, as our Father. It cost the Father, His son. It cost Jesus His life. Our costs? Choosing to accept Him as Lord and Savior. We can’t earn it. We can’t be good enough. We simply acknowledge our need for Him. The benefits that come with making Him Lord are too numerous to list them all. But, one is joy.

You love him passionately although you did not see him, but through believing in him you are saturated with an ecstatic joy, indescribably sublime and immersed in glory.
1 Peter 1:8 TPT

Peter does not say we have joy unless we are living in a pandemic, dealing with trials, temptations, or disappointments. Our joy has nothing to do with what is happening around us. It has everything to do with who is living on the inside of us. When we make Jesus our Lord, we accept Him as our Savior; He sends the Holy Spirit to dwell within us. That is where our joy comes from.

We get joy unimaginable, indescribable joy! It is a gift. Do you remember the song, “Joy Unspeakable?”

Refrain:
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory;
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth every need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.

I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing, I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.

You can listen to the hymn here

There is so much I could say, but I will close by reminding us all that His great joy is found in His presence. Stay connected with Him. Turn off the outside noises (News, Social Media, People who drain you) and spend some time with the Lord.

I love each of you with the same love that the Father loves me. You must continually let my love nourish your hearts. If you keep my commands, you will live in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands, for I continually live nourished and empowered by his love. My purpose for telling you these things is so that the joy that I experience will fill your hearts with overflowing gladness!
John 15:9-11 TPT

Then I will come closer to your very altar until I come before you, the God of my ecstatic joy!
I will praise you with the harp that plays in my heart, to you, my God, my magnificent God!
Psalm 43:4 (TPT)