I remember being a young employee called into my boss’s office, worried I had messed up. I sat down in front of his large executive desk as he closed the door. I was frantically going through my memory to find anything I could have done wrong.
As he sat down in his leather chair, he asked me in all seriousness, “Why are you so happy all the time?”
Taken aback, I wasn’t even sure what he had just asked me.
“Happy all the time?” I asked.
“Yes,” he said a little frustrated with me. “You always have a smile on your face and seem happy no matter what happens. How do you do that?”
I knew my boss struggled with “down” days. He had grown up in a very religious home based on works. He tried to be kind to those he led and to love others. But he never acted like he enjoyed his life or was very happy.
I had prayed for over a year for him to have a real relationship with Jesus, to know he was unconditionally loved and to feel free to be happy without the guilt. Here was my open door to share the “secret of my joy.” We had a surprising conversation about my faith in Jesus and what He did for me every day.
If I hadn’t allowed the joy in my life to spread to my face, would my boss have asked me about my heart? A smile is vulnerable and makes others wonder about the Jesus you long to share.
I wonder if the way we live makes a life with Jesus look like a joyous adventure or an unhappy religion?
Sometimes those I encounter that don’t have a saving relationship with Jesus seem happier than those of us that do. That doesn’t seem the way God intended us to live after experiencing an eternal freedom from sin and love with no bounds. Why would our neighbor be attracted to a faith that was full of hate, unhappiness, anxiety, impatience, and brutality instead of love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness?
We are to “count it all joy, when we meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let that steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 ESV, emphasis mine)
God empowers us with the ability to have joy in our circumstances even if we may not feel it and that joy is unexplainable without Jesus. He is the secret to getting through the trials in our lives and being in an anchored place of contentment — joy in patience and peace.
I know that Jesus tells us we will suffer on His behalf and not always be treated fairly because the enemy hates us. But in the middle of all of that, do we really believe “the joy of the Lord is our strength?”
Maybe the lack of joy in our lives is why you and I are so tired. We’ve somehow missed out on His joy and that’s what is making us unhappy, exhausted, and a dimmed light for the Kingdom.
During rough waters, I’ve held onto the Lord until I found my joy in Him. I’ve learned Jesus is the source of our joy because He is joy.
The God of the universe sings His song of delight over us, and that makes us feel loved and adored. Joy can grow from that spot inside of us to overflowing the same kind of joy to others.
The Holy Spirit also bears fruit on our behalf, in and through us. Love is number one, and joy is a close second. It is by His strength that our joy returns, knowing that we are loved infinitely well.
Circumstances and what we do don’t change the strength of the Lord’s joy. Paul worshiped Jesus in prison, lighting the way for the guards to be free from bondage with a newfound faith in Jesus. For the joy set before Him — pleasing God the Father, a reconciled love relationship with you, and the defeat of the enemy — Jesus endured the cross.
We need to be the women of Jesus, living a life that shows others that we are ambassadors of His and are promised joy with His Spirit. And the world will pause for a moment to ask us why we can be so happy in the middle of the chaos that is our world.
What is holding you back from the joy Jesus offers?
Circumstances and what we do don't change the strength of the Lord's joy. -Stephanie Bryant: Click To Tweet Leave a Comment
When I remember that Paul wrote his most compelling words about joy while he was living in chains in a Roman prison, I get the gift of perspective. Thanks for wearing your joy so visibly. Our smile is a compelling argument for something internal and effervescent that cannot be explained without God.
Amen Michelle & Stephanie!
What a wonderful reminder!
Stephanie,
Our emotions are fickle. We ride the tidal wave with our circumstances. Good happens we are happy, bad or unexpected then we turn sad. Our joy is complete with God. Webster’s defines joy as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires”. If we think about our home in Heaven, having the Holy Spirit in us & knowing that Jesus paid the ultimate penalty for our sins then we should be joyful. Our circumstances/light afflictions are momentary in light of eternity. 2 Corinthians 4:17 states “For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. They are making us stronger Christians more able to trust God. If Paul & Silas can sing in prison & turn the guards to Christ then how much more should I be joyful in my afflictions. We need to show this dark world that God is still in control & we win in the end.
Blessings 🙂
You have just spoken the Truth! Jesus is The Way, The Truth & The Life! Thanks for sharing everything that needed to be said.They are my sentiments exactly! I hope and pray that more people will find & share the Joy that is in knowing Him! This is one reason we named our eldest daughter, Bethany Joy! Now praying for the rest of our adult children, Anthony, Brittny to come to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior. He is my Everything! Tiffany & Robbie are serving our Jesus. She teaches third grade & is bringing our 2 grands, Lane Asher(7) & Jernigan Joy (18 mos.named after her Aunt Bethany Joy) up in the love & admonition of Jesus also! Praying specifically for Breanna(13) & Braelynn(8) daughters of Brittny & Patrick will teach them about Jesus, find a church as spiritual family so they can worship our precious Lord & Savior, Jesus as He wants to be worshiped! As you can tell my heart’s cry is for our whole family to KNOW JESUS & not just learn about HIM! Really live the Life worthy of Him & bring glory to Him so others may see the Light shining through us! Share that Love & Joy always!
What an inspiration message to read first thing in the morning.
May we as women practice as Stephanie stated, “living a life that shows others
that we are ambassadors of His and are promised JOY with His Spirit.
We have to try to focus on Him as the joy every day, don’t we? It doesn’t come natural.
Ahhh yes! I’m claiming that JOY today as well as I can! Sometimes it feels sooo lost but in Jesus Christ I am found! Loved 2 Cor. 4:17 along with this post… though it’s rainy and chilly here today, His light cannot be doused now or ever as we are not going to put it under a basket but shower it on those everywhere we go.. as did Stephanie as do y’all precious sisters in His sight \0/ keep calm and shine on 🙂
Amen, Sadie!
Oh, this is so beautiful. He is Joy. And our Peace! Today and always, I’m so grateful for Him! And for you, Stephanie. Thank you for this!
I’d like to echo what you wrote Patricia. Thank-you to you and Stephanie.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Blessings, Penny! I pray you had a beautiful, joyous day. Thank you so much
Thank you, Parricia, for being here & your kind words! xo
THANKYOU ….. Agree! My word this year is DELIGHT and I need to keep focus.. My husband , a Christian , retired at home , has such bad moods. It gets me down.. keeping my eyes on Jesus keeps me going. This is such an encouragement. Bless you.
Oh Cheryl.. we’re retired and have poured ourselves into our church.. in service.. we started by serving in the food pantry and afterwards you can’t help but be grateful and thankful for God’s grace and provision in our own lives.. prayer for you and him today ! Blessings
Perfect. Love this. It is hard to stay down when our eyes are on him. I want to make a life with Christ look joyous. I think God is a lot more joyful than we imagine him to be.
I love how the idea of Jesus as joyful surprised us. He is love & joy. And how His joy overflows about you!
Over Christmas my daughter and I were listening to the radio and heard what JOY can stand for. To put these first in this order…Jesus…Others…Yourself. It was a great teaching moment for my 7 year old. We still continue to talk about the importance of this.
I often forget just how powerful a smile can be. Thank you for the reminder that: “A smile is vulnerable and makes others wonder about the Jesus you long to share.” Amen, Stephanie! As I grab my coat and purse, may I also grab a smile!
Stephanie,
Thank you for remind that joy is for us in spite of life’s troubles.