How in the world do you find joy in doing things you have done for more than 2 months or even a year? How in the world is it that when you get whatever you wished for, you don’t seem as happy as you “hoped” you would be?

Sometimes the truth is, the thing we desperately prayed for doesn’t bring us any joy. And then we start questioning God. We search for the meaning of it all. And the hard truth we face at the end is this: is there anything in this world that would satisfy my soul? And I have found the answer to be no.

I think I’m starting to get it now, so the joy wasn’t supposed to be found in our everyday lives? It maybe found there, don’t get me wrong, but it’s not always guaranteed. 1 Thessalonians 5: 16 tells us to “Rejoice always”.

Wait a minute Lord. Rejoice always?

But how is that possible? How am I supposed to rejoice when I haven’t got the job I always wanted, or how am I supposed to rejoice when people don’t treat me the way I think I should be treated? Child, the joy isn’t supposed to be found in what’s going right or wrong. Joy is  found in Me.This is quite liberating. This is freedom. Yes, many days I will find myself face to face with injustice; many days I will stumble; Satan may sometimes convince me to believe that I am unworthy but as long as I keep my eyes focused on the Savior, I will always be joyful.  The below two verses perfectly explain this new found Joy.

“As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love.” John 15:9

“No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.” John 15:15 And lastly, the answer key is found in John 15:11, “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.” These things I have spoken to you…

I love you. 

I call you My friend. 

That My joy may remain in you!

I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I will ever find anything more soul-satisfying that the thought that I’m loved by the King of Heaven and on top of that He calls me His Friend. I’m loved not because of anything I have done, not because I always do my Bible study, but because love is His character and nothing I will ever do can make Him love me any less. Thank You Father for calling me Your friend. As I meditate on this beautiful truth about Joy I’m reminded of the old hymn Turn your  eyes upon Jesus. Lord, I want these very words to be my prayer!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Lord, my prayer is that I will always keep my eyes on You. Because that’s the only place where my freedom is found as well. And as I look full in Your wonderful face, the things of this life will start to lose their appeal. Please, please Lord, always remind me that full joy is only found in You and not in what’s going on in my life. My life, Your way! In the Precious Name of Jesus I pray! Amen