What happened to joy ...

It is truly incredible how quickly we can move from a moment of such pure joy, back into the morass of life… what is that about? Why does it happen? What causes this? Where did that joy go?

I don’t want to live like that for one more moment. We are meant for joy … here is what Jesus has to say about joy:

John 15:11 - I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!

John 16:24 - You haven’t done this before. Ask, using my name, and you will receive, and you will have abundant joy.

John 17:13 - “Now I am coming to you. I told them many things while I was with them in this world so they would be filled with my joy.

Abundant joy … joy overflowing … filled with His joy. YES! That’s what I want … it is my deepest desire to live in this joy in every moment.

But then life happens and I forget that He walks ahead of me to prepare the way for me. I forget that He desires the deepest intimacy and then … somewhere in that time between when I open myself up to Him in the morning and walk in the front door at work … I forget that He is there … walking ahead of me … waiting for me to follow Him … and I head off on my own.

Oh, I still have an awareness of Him in my life but I don’t rest in His presence. I walk out on my own as though I am my own god, and make my own way through the day. No wonder the joy goes away … actually it doesn’t go away – my joy is complete in Him and I make the choice, however unconsciously, to walk away from Him and go on about my day “as though” I can do anything well, on my own! I walk away from the source of that joy … and this is what breaks my heart. I am fully aware in this moment, that I have made the choice to walk away from His presence and joy. This is new revelation for me. Yup, 42 and still growing up! : )

This morning after reading a bit in Walking With God, the Lord directed me to Psalm 57 … and I was blessed to read of His protection for me in this passage:
1. Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy!
I look to you for protection.
I will hide beneath the shadow of your wings
until the danger passes by.
2. I cry out to God Most High,[a]
to God who will fulfill his purpose for me.
3. He will send help from heaven to rescue me,
disgracing those who hound me.
My God will send forth his unfailing love and faithfulness.
4. I am surrounded by fierce lions
who greedily devour human prey—
whose teeth pierce like spears and arrows,
and whose tongues cut like swords.
5. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens!
May your glory shine over all the earth.
6. My enemies have set a trap for me.
I am weary from distress.
They have dug a deep pit in my path,
but they themselves have fallen into it.
7. My heart is confident in you, O God;
my heart is confident.
No wonder I can sing your praises!
8. Wake up, my heart!
Wake up, O lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn with my song.
9. I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
I will sing your praises among the nations.
10. For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.
11. Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
May your glory shine over all the earth.