Continuing to
think about joy, I found there was more to learn and share. In fact, as I was trying to walk faster on
the treadmill at the university’s fitness center, a verse came to mind: “The joy of the Lord is your strength”
(Nehemiah 8:10). I have known a song
with this scripture in it for many years, but I saw something new this time. The phrase is “the joy of the Lord,” not
necessarily the human feeling of happiness when things are going well. This joy is rooted in God Himself, and as we
abide in Him, it can become a fruit of His Spirit in us.
John 17 reveals
the deep prayers of Christ for Himself and His followers as He approaches His
crucifixion, resurrection and return to His heavenly Father. Jesus wants to be glorified and bring glory
to His Father; He wants the world to see the miraculous power of the living
God. Jesus asks, “Holy Father, keep
through Your name those whom You have given me, that they may be one as We are.
. . But now I come to You . . . that they may have My joy fulfilled in
themselves” (Vs. 11, 13). Again, this is
the joy of Jesus, something deeper and surer than fickle human emotions.
At times, life’s
experiences can seem to suck the joy right out of us. But there is an eternal resource, the living
water Jesus supplies; we can come to Him and drink and be renewed. “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and
drink. He who believes in Me, as the
Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John
7:37,38). John adds that Jesus was
speaking of the Holy Spirit that had not yet been given. Acts 2 describes the fulfillment of the
coming of the Spirit to indwell and empower believers.
So it seems that
this joy of the Lord, this living water of the Spirit, is ours for the asking
and ours for the taking. Perhaps it is much like
the manna supplied in the wilderness to the Israelites—fresh and new every
morning for that day. Take heart, be of
good cheer, be full of joy! The
long view of the Christian life is one of winning the race and then enjoying eternal
life, free of every ill this world can throw our way.
