Joy

In my previous blog I talked about God being on time. Even though my apricot tree was not on time according to me, it does give me joy to see the beautiful blossom and have the delicious fruit. And I was wondering - What is joy? What gives us joy? One dictionary definition is “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation”.
 
I can think of a number of things that give me joy besides things coming to fruition in my garden or allotment. My grandchildren give me joy, my children, seeing a beautiful sunrise or a rainbow in the sky. God is the ultimate source of joy. In Romans chapter 5 St Paul talks a lot about joy, rejoicing in the joy of the Lord. There is that lovely song, “The joy of the Lord is my strength”.
 
Joy is a fruit of the Spirit - “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5; 22-23)
 
Joy is something to be chased after, hunted down, to be looked for and to be cherished. Unfortunately, some people think that they never, ever, will have joy and that’s really sad. I’ve been reading how the book of Romans had changed St Augustine, Tyndall, Wesley; all these people’s lives were transformed by the joy of the gospel. It’s the joy of knowing that Christ died for them and that their sins were forgiven. In 1515 Martin Luther was transformed by it, saying that Paul “gave him the gateway to heaven.” In 1738 John Wesley’s heart was “strangely warmed.” He wrote, “I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for my salvation; and an assurance was given me that he had taken my sins away, even mine; and saved me from the law of sin and death”. CS Lewis, in his book “Surprised by Joy,” describes how he ultimately discovers the true nature and purpose of joy and its place in his own life, as he chooses to follow Christ.
 
So, I hope that all those people who feel that life does not give them joy will one day hear that Christ died for them and know that the joy of salvation is theirs to take too, and will experience the strength that it gives.
 
What can we, what can I, do? We can pray and keep telling people about this wonderful gift of salvation, that Christ died for us on the cross and rose again, so that we are forgiven.
 
Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength (Nehemiah 8:10)
 
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (Romans 15:13)
 
Photo by Federico Respini on Unsplash