The question today is where do I need joy?
The answer: everywhere.
My job is joyless.
My marriage is joyless.
My family is joyless.
My coming and my going? Joyless.
This shows me, without doubt that my own heart is joyless.
It is not my co-workers, my husband, my family or the daily tasks I am given.
I am joyless. It is me.
I wonder. What is joy?
Joy is not the wonderful feeling of being at the top of the roller coaster, anticipating the adrenaline rush. It is not the incredible excitement, the rushing movement, descending, twisting and turning while wondering if you will be able to withstand the crazy force throwing your body this way, then that. This is ‘dangerous’ excitement. This is fun. This is not joy.
Joy is not laughter. Joy is not Dad Jokes, crazy cat videos, or watching hilarious bloopers. Those are amusing. They are not joy.
My job gives me opportunities.
My marriage gives me love, support, companionship and a sneak peek into the knowledge of God’s profound love.
My family gives me wonder, true adoration, and awe as I watch their lives unfold.
My daily tasks? Mundane. Sometimes annoying, and often calling for much more patience than I have. I find no joy there.
So, what is joy?
Can I buy it on one of my many shopping escapades? Can I find this elusive feeling in church, in a National Forrest, on an exotic vacation?
Oh.
There it is.
My mind wrote a word that is completely wrong.
As I meander through my thoughts, as I write them down, to clarify my beliefs, sometimes something happens. I sometimes expose the errors of my bitty brain. I sometimes realize what or why I am struggling with a concept.
Joy is not a feeling to be found in my circumstances. Feeling is the WORD. The wrong word.
It sounds innocuous. Almost. Where can I find the elusive feeling of joy? I can’t. It isn’t a feeling.
So what is joy? Why don’t I have it?
Psalms 16:11
11 You make me know
the path of life; in your presence is
unbounded joy,
in your right hand
eternal delight.
(CJB brought to you by Messianic Jewish Publishers and Resources)
Ponder, my heart.
Right here is my answer. Where is joy? Where do I need joy? Where do I find it?
I must look through the pages of an ancient book. Why didn’t I think of that?
Perhaps because I thought joy was a feeling.
Now I know where joy is.