True Undeniable Joy

We all know that person. That person that has an undeniable joy to them. They are always smiling, always putting you in a good mood. The person who is always willing to talk, laugh, or go get you something. Even when something bad happens to them they are oddly optimistic. They plant themselves in the Lord and are sure that he will work all things out in the end. Maybe this person is a friend, a parent, a teacher, someone at your church. No matter who it is, there is just something else about them. Something wonderful.

So, what is joy? The dictionary says something about “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.” If you had asked me this question a week ago, I would have had a similar answer. I would have said something about it being long-lasting happiness that comes from God. But, this past week has changed that. This terrible, stressful week in which I received so many different types of bad news. It is not happiness like we are always told. When someone you love is suffering, you are not happy. When you feel all hope is lost, you are not happy. When someone comes along and ruins your plans, you are not happy. Joy is not happiness. I’m going to say that again. Joy is not happiness. Joy exists in it’s own realm. A realm that can only be understood when you put your faith in the Lord.

You can have joy and not be happy. That is where people get lost. Having joy is not facing the world with a smile on your face and a good attitude. Happiness is fleeting and can be measured, contained. Joy cannot be measured, it cannot be contained. It flows out of you when you are angry, sorrowful, or rejoicing. It is not an emotion, it is a state of being. Just like I am human, I am joyful. Joy cannot be disassociated with me once I have come to know it. It is an integral part of my character. I have been looking for the perfect definition of joy, but one cannot be found. That is because joy cannot be put into simple words. It cannot be described. Even if this blog post were 50 pages long, I would not even capture a fraction of what joy means, but I will try my best to explain what it has meant in my life.

Joy is getting up every morning thankful for another day even when you don’t feel like getting out of bed. Joy is not faltering in your perseverance and pursuance of the Lord despite the hurdles the world puts in your way. Joy is seeing through a bad situation. I often thought that joy was seeing the best in a bad situation. But now, I see joy as being able to see that not all bad situations are forever. It hurts in the moment and it is okay to acknowledge that. But to have true joy is to trust that it will not hurt forever.

Joy is hard. It is not easy to trust God when your world is falling apart. Joy is not natural, that is why we always notice those people who have joy radiating off of them. It does not come easily to many people. Despite this, joy is necessary. If you have any intention of living a life in this vicious world, you need joy. You cannot go through this life without joy. You will fall and you will fail. The burdens, the stress, and the evil will overwhelm you if you are not finding your joy and your strength in the Lord.

I’ve already touched on this a bit, but the only source of joy is God. Joy does not come from friends, TV, instagram, your dog, or anything else that is of this world. The only place you can find joy, true undeniable joy, is from God. He is abounding in joy. His heart overflows with it. My favorite phrase to describe God is exceedingly abounding. He overwhelms us with how much his joy overflows. He is rich in joy. And he wants to share it with you. He wants to ease your burdens. He want to encourage you and carry you through this life.

As seasons in life change, your idea of joy will change. Day to day, week to week, year to year, you will not see it the same. Some days, when you are on a spiritual high, it seems easy. Some days, when you get the worst of news, it grows increasingly difficult. So as this changes, call on the father. His greatest desire is to ensure the joy of his beloved children.

Self-Control

Self-Control

1 Thessalonians 5:6-8 “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”

There are so many times when we need to have self-control. It can range from not eating a cookie because you are on a diet or going to work instead of blowing it off. It can be hard to deny yourself the things that you want in the moment, but it takes self-control to keep yourself from doing the things you know you shouldn’t.

It may not seem like it, but Jesus had to deal with self-control, too. We think of him as God, but he was also human. He was still tempted, much like we are. What really made him perfect was his ability to say no when it was necessary. In Luke 4:13, Jesus is in the wilderness being tempted by the devil. He was out there for forty days, not eating and being constantly tempted. Satan offered him food and chances to show off his power. The devil told him to throw himself off a building and have the angels come and save him. This would prove that he was absolutely the son of God to people that did not believe, but Jesus had the control to not do that. He trusted God’s plan to bring him through the wilderness.

In this world, we are constantly being tempted. The world tells us to turn from God, but we must also trust him to bring us through, just like he did for Jesus. It is hard to deny yourself the pleasures that the devil tells you that you deserve, but you must refuse those things. God will take care of you. Ask him to give you self-control in the areas that you need and he will grant you the ability to make it out of your own wilderness.

Gentleness

Gentleness

“A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.” Proverbs 15:4

Who would you rather be friends with: someone that is kind and gentle when they speak or someone that is harsh and hot-tempered? People who are gentle are generally better to be around because they do not disdain your shortcomings. Instead, they lift you up through their affection and calm nature.  

Gentleness is a compassionate approach to the weaknesses and limitations of those around us. It does not mean that we ourselves are weak, but it means that we do not look down on others in the areas that we struggle. We should use both words and action to lift people up. In doing that, we are displaying the fruit of gentleness. When we are gentle, we are showing people a piece of God’s character.

John 8:1-11 tells the story of a woman caught in adultery. The people wanted to stone her to death, but Jesus had mercy on her. He said to the crowd, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” (John 8:7) After the crowds left, Jesus gently called the woman to leave her sinful ways. He did not yell at her to repent, he simply said, “Go and leave your life of sin.” (John 8:11)

Jesus said in Matthew 11:29 that he “is gentle and humble in heart”. He came to save us, not through harsh words, but through love. That is what he calls us to, as well. God wants us to be gentle and loving in our words, not forcing people to see things our way. We must be gentle with other people so that we can show them how much God loves and cares for them.

Faithfulness

Faithfulness

For most of my life I have had a best friend, a friend I tell everything and would trust with my life. What makes a friend a best friend? It is more than a simple kindness or good sense of humor. It is their loyalty to you that makes them want to stay by your side. They stood by you during a hard times, they were the constant in the storm. That is how we should see God. As our constant in the storms that we call life. He rescues us from the wind and waves, and for that we give him our allegiance.

Faithfulness is being steady in your loyalty and affection towards God. When we are faithful, we are acknowledging all the good he has done in our lives and giving what is left of that life to him. We put our faith and trust in God because he saved us, and he expects us to trust him right back. But, it can be hard to trust someone that you have never met. It can be hard to believe in a God that you cannot see. Yet, throughout history we see that God rewarded those who were faithful to him and gave him their hearts.

One of these faithful people is Hezekiah.  Hezekiah was a king in Jerusalem and his story is told in 2 Chronicles 29-32. 2 Chronicles 29 begins with saying that “He (Hezekiah) did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, just as his father David had done.” Hezekiah was faithful to God and followed his plans. The Bible tells how he purified the temple, removed the idols, and reformed the priesthood. “This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the Law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered.”

Now, of course you do not have to reform the priesthood for God to consider you faithful, but look to Hezekiah as an example. God called him to do something and he did it.  He was a righteous man after God’s heart. Let that be your desire as well. Run towards God’s will and be open to the works he is doing right now. God is the best friend you could ever have, so “serve him faithfully with all your heart.” 1 Samuel 12:24

Goodness

Goodness

“The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.” Romans 8:7

As humans, we are born into sin. Romans 8:7 says that we are “hostile to God”, that we are opposed to God’s ways. Our natural decisions, as humans, lean towards sin. We are born into the mindset that we should defy God and his ways.

Genesis 3 details the story of “The Fall”. We see that Adam and Eve fall prey to Satan’s lies, separating us from God. This sin is why we need to be sure to display fruits of goodness, as our very nature is sinful. Paul included goodness in the fruits of the spirit, not because it is easy, but because it is necessary. To have a relationship with God, we must be free of our sins and come to the truth.

Goodness is being righteous and truthful, free from sin. Having the fruit of goodness means that you overcome the sin that is in your life. It means that you choose to follow God’s ways and not your own.  

Satan is constantly trying to get into our minds, he is trying to make us do bad. But, our example is Christ. 1 Peter 2:24a states, “and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.” This verse is telling us that Christ came so that we can leave our sins behind. We are to live a life of righteousness, of goodness, in response to the sin that we have been freed from and the love that we have been shown.

Goodness is about living a life that is free from sin. It is living in response to the love and truth that God has given us. Go and live life as God intended, live justly and truthfully.

Kindness

Kindness

The woman in the picture above is about to receive an offering from the older woman. We cannot see her face, but can you imagine how she feels? She is probably smiling, thankful for the gift she is about to receive.  Kindness makes us feel good. When we are kind, we show the world a piece of God’s character.

We are kind to others because God was first kind to us. He shows us this kindness by providing us with our needs. He meets not only physical needs, but spiritual needs, like love, joy, and hope. When we have been shown this kindness, it is only natural to pass it on to others.

God requires us to be kind to our enemies. 1 Samuel 25 tells the story of David and Nabal. David had been kind to Nabal’s men when they had crossed paths with them, so David was expecting Nabal to return the kindness by providing for David and his men. But, Nabal turned David away, saying that his servants can lie and that it is not his job to meet the needs of people he does not know. David took his men and tried to discipline Nabal, but God stepped in. God sent Abigail, Nabal’s wife, to stop David from punishing Nabal for his unkindness. Soon after this, God punished Nabal and he died.

It is not our job to repay people for unkindness, it is the Lord’s. Romans 12:17-21 states that “If your enemy is hungry, feed him: if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” We must be kind to everyone. If we know them or not, if we like them or not, does not matter. God calls us to be kind to everyone by meeting their needs in the same manner that he has met ours. God wants us to be kind to everyone: enemies, friends, family, strangers. When we are kind to others, we show God’s love to them.  

Patience

Patience

Patience is so much more than waiting in a long line at the grocery store. It is more than having to wait two weeks for your amazon shipment. It is more than waiting to see if you got the job you applied for. When you are patient, you are waiting for something that you do not even understand. We must be patient when we work with God because we must stand by until his plan is ready. We do not know what he is doing, but we sit with anticipation of the glorious plan that he has in the works.

Patience is a fruit of the spirit because it is a necessary trait for you to be able to have a fruitful life. In Ephesians 1:4-6 Paul states that for the body of Christ to have unity, we must be patient with one another. We must be tolerant of each other and be able to cooperate. This helps us to do the works God has called us and to build his kingdom. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 states that two are better than one. For this to be true, we must work together and be forgiving of one another.

Patience is required to endure the suffering that is found on this earth. We must be patient with God and his plan if we are to endure this world. In James 5:10-11, we see that there are many who have suffered in the name of the Lord. But, these verses also tell us that because of their patience, the Lord was merciful on them. They waited on God’s timing and he provided for them.

Hebrews 6:15 states that “After waiting patiently, Abraham received what was promised.” Abraham was promised to be made the father of many nations, that his descendants would be as numerous as the stars (Genesis 17). He was almost 100 years old when this happened. Abraham and his wife, Sarah, has been waiting for years for a child, but they had to be patient. Abraham tried to fulfill God’s promises on his own (Genesis 16), but that was not God’s best for him. He had to wait until God was ready, he could not act on his own timing. We can see that after waiting, Abraham received something greater than he could have ever imagined.

Be patient. Wait until God brings you what is best for you. You may not know what you are even waiting for, but do it with perseverance and trust. God will see you through, you just need to wait for his timing.

Peace

Peace

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

We all long for peace. But, in this world, we are not promised to always have a peaceful life. This life is hard and long, anything but peaceful. But, having the fruit of peace is being at peace in the situations you are in. It is reacting calmly to whatever comes your way.  Peace is being in a mental state of calm that comes from being in a relationship with God. There are two types of peace. There is the peace that comes in initial salvation and the peace that comes as a result of living everyday with Jesus.

The first kind of peace comes when we accept God’s grace. There is a sudden peace that floods into your life because you now know the enormity that is God. Your future is set and your needs are cared for. That is the peace that comes from your first encounter with God. When you know where you are going to be for eternity, it makes it so much easier to come to peace with the situations you are placed in on Earth.

The second peace comes when you live your everyday life with Jesus. It comes when you wake up in the morning and give your day to God. Peace comes from fellowship with God and daily growth in your faith life. When you spend your days drowning in the love of the Lord, you cannot help but be at peace.

John 14:27 tells us that when Jesus left the Earth, he left his peace for his disciples in the form of the Holy Spirit. He does not give us the worries of the world, but the peace of his spirit. We do not need to be afraid or troubled in this life because his peace is there everyday to comfort us. All we need to do is accept his spirit and live everyday with him.

Joy

Joy

With so much going on in our lives, it can be hard to be joyful. With tests, deadlines, appointments, disappointments, and heartbreaks, it is difficult to remember joy. But, during all of that, think of all the good things that have happened. You woke up, you had food to eat, you have a God that loves you. If you think about all the good things that happen on even it worst of days, then you will begin to question how we could ever forget to have joy.

True joy comes from God. Everyday when we wake up, we find joy in our Lord. He gives us the joy, the strength, to face the day. Joy is so much more than basic happiness. It is a deep and lasting sense that will not fade even during the hard times. You can be sad, but still rejoice. You can be exhausted, but still rejoice. In every season of your life you can rejoice in the Lord.

There are many things you can do to be more joyful in your everyday life. My favorite way is to keep a “joy journal”. In it, I write all the things I am thankful for, all the things that make me happy. I do whatever I want in it, with no expectations of how each page will come out. You could paint in it, tape in pictures, draw, make lists, use stickers and stamps, paste in movie tickets, or write yourself encouraging notes. Only include things that bring joy rushing into you, so that when you open it you can feel all the more encouraged.

True joy comes from God, but that joy can come in many forms. Other things you can do to cultivate joy in your life are surround yourself with joyful people, be in constant communication with God, listen to good music, or go somewhere that brings you joy, like a park or coffee shop.

Remember that you can be joyful on even the worst of days. Being joyous will change your outlook on life for the better. Ask God to work in your heart and mind to give you a more joyful outlook on life.

Much Love, Lydia

Love

Love

The greatest commandment is to love (Matthew 22:37-39). We are to love God with our entire being and love people as much as God loves us. But to understand the love we must display to others, we must first understand the love that God has for us. "To love your neighbor as yourself" is so much more than that. It is to love your neighbor as God loves you.

In Romans 8 Paul describes the love of God as deep, wide, unconditional, and more powerful than anything you could ever imagine. God loves you with an all-encompassing love. He loves you so much that he sent his son to die for you, even though you do not deserve it. We do not deserve to wake up, have food, friends, clothes, or even life. But God loves you that much. We see his abounding and ferocious love on display every day. There is no way to even begin to comprehend how much God loves you.

Imagine loving yourself that much. Imagine forgiving yourself every day and not living in guilt and shame. Let love shine in your life. Be a broken vessel. Pour your love out through your cracks. We are all incredibly stained by sin, but when love shines through, we create beautiful  stained glass windows. Our sin, our brokenness, can become beautiful. Lay down your pride, so you can love. Lay down your guilt, so you can love. Your shame, fear, regrets, past, everything. Lay everything down at the feet of Jesus. And then go and be free to love others. Love others as much as God loves you.

Love can be scary. I am scared of lots of things that God has put in front of me. I am scared of publishing this blog, but I did it anyways or else you wouldn’t be reading it. I am scared of making new friends and losing old ones. I am scared of offending people. I am scared of not displaying God's love properly. I am terrified of these and so many more things. But, I am not going to let that stand in my way of loving people. When you have found true love, there will be no fear. When you love from God's heart, you do not need to be afraid. For, as 1 John 4:18 says, there is no fear in love. Maybe you are like me. Maybe you are afraid to love for whatever reason. But, I have found that God makes a garden in the places that we thought barren. He will let love flourish in your life, if you just let him in.

Do not be afraid to love. You are loved so much and there is no fear in perfect love.  Love people like God loves, unconditionally and completely. Start small. Say hello to someone, invite them to coffee, write them an encouraging note. Let your love shine out into the community. Remember, God never runs out of love, so do not be afraid to pour yourself out onto people. Pour your little clay jar out onto the world and trust that God will always fill you back up.

Much love, Lydia