Joy to the World!

Joy. This time of year we hear it in carols, ads, stories.It's as if the Christmas season, with presents, gatherings,and traditions will automatically produce joy in the hearts of everyone. The word can have many different meanings. People interpret it in various ways. Some think it means extreme happiness. A giddy, very active experience. When belly laughs seem to come from deep within. I don't know about you, but those experiences come few and far between for me. They also usually involve children. Not something one can enjoy constantly. Recently, that kind of free, emotional experience is even more difficult to attain. We see all of the events in our world, and if we let ourselves we can become sad, even depressed. Man's inhumanity to man is indescribable. We could talk for weeks and never come up with reasons or solutions. Because we are bombarded with the facts daily it can affect us deeply emotionally. One thing I have never experienced, and I hope I don't, is the death of a child in my family. I can't imagine that pain. And yet, you can find numerous examples of people carrying on, even enjoying life, after such an experience. How? There are many many scriptures that tell us about joy. Here are just a few: ROMANS 14:17 -"For the kingdom of God is not a matter of tasting and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." PSALMS 28:7 - " The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy, and I will give thanks to Him in song." And finally, joy is found as a fruit of the spirit: GALATIONS 5:22 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness." The fruit of the Spirit is not always obvious among Christians. I have my own ideas on the reasons for that, but that is a whole other subject. There are a few things I am certain of, however. I have often wondered why God made me like He did. In my life I have demonstrated anger, rebellion, impulsivity,addictive behaviors,depression, unhappiness.......the list goes on and on. Those of you who have known me a long time can point to a time when I demonstrated those qualities.....some recently. I seldom experienced joy of any kind...unless I found it in activities or other people. I would not have defined joy as a state of being. I have come to believe lately that I see God's motives creating me as I am. Experiencing life as I have, I can more deeply and dramatically appreciate joy as expressed in the scriptures. Joy, the joy found in the Holy Spirit, is so much more than a giddy laugh. The joy found through Christ is constant. It doesn't depend on circumstance or events. It doesn't disappear when others have hurt me or disappointed me. It doesn't require the good behavior of others. It drives away fear, longing, and sadness. It's calming and exhilarating at the same time. It supplies peace to this life that never knew peace before. It's the best.....the absolute best feeling in the world. It's a feeling you went everyone to have. Everyone, even those who have hurt you in the past or continue to hurt you now. A feeling, or rather state of being, you WOULD wish on your worst enemy, because you understand how that state would affect them. I certainly don't profess to know all the answers in this life. Still vastly confused about many issues. Still striving to become more, better,complete. But I do know this. Joy, in its most perfect form, is found only in a close relationship with Christ. And that is the gift I wish for you and everyone this season. Merry Christmas! Joy to the world!

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