I've had a desire to write but wasn't sure to what God was calling me.  Over the years, God has given me what seems like puzzle pieces.  And while the picture isn't complete, I have come to realize enough of it to know that Joy is my topic. 

 

Life is full of ups and downs just like riding a roller coaster.  And while my emotions might ride right along with them, I am steadfastly a joyful person and that joy truly comes from God, whom I need daily.  

 

Like most teens, there was an emptiness that I couldn’t identify in my youth and it just grew and grew.  You wouldn't have known it.  I acted happy and had friends.  My family went to church, I attended Sunday School and confirmation classes.  I liked to talk about God and ask questions about the Bible.  I felt a comfort in reading scripture nightly but to be honest, I really didn’t understand what I was reading.  Somehow though, just holding and scanning those words from scripture brought me a certain solace I could find no where else.

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One day, at seemingly my lowest moment, a friend dropped by to say hi.  I lived in the country, on a road that others would have deemed in the middle of nowhere; consequently, no one just "dropped by".  Seldom did we receive unexpected guests.  So you can imagine my complete surprise that a person went out of their way just to be an encouragement to me even though they had no idea what I was feeling.  Immediately after, I came to the revelation that God must know my name and He spoke it through a friend that showed up out of the blue to just say Hi in what felt at the time, my darkest hour.  Truly in that moment, the depression I was feeling left me, and I chose joy.  From that time on, whatever the circumstance and life’s ups and downs, I have chosen a new perspective.  Sure I have some down and out days, everyone has them, but depression has no hold on me.  I chose joy because Jesus chose me!  I still didn’t fully understand at that time what Jesus had done for me on the cross, but I knew that God knew my name and that He knew my innermost thoughts.  

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As I studied the Bible, I came to realize that sin was imperfection.  There wasn't a sliding scale of who did what.  Sin is simply us not measuring up to God's perfection and any of it separates us from Him.  "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." --Romans 6:23  The story for sin ends with an eternal sadness.  But God, who created us, longs to have a relationship with us.  I'm not speaking of a general "us" as in the bulk of society and some slip through the cracks unnoticed; no, He longs to have a relationship with YOU.  He knows your name and He knows what you are going through. 

 

So, how with this great divide between our sinful nature and God could there be a way for us to come to His presence?  What clearly answered this for me is the illustration of two cliffs; man on one side and God on the other.  In between, was the cross of Jesus as a bridge.  Jesus died on the cross to pay that penalty of death for you, for me and for everyone.  What's more, He rose to new life and is seated in Heaven.  He defeated death; therefore, He has the power of salvation through the forgiveness of sins.  

 

I am not joyful because of my positive attitude.  I have a positive attitude because I have JOY.  I do not equate this with the emotion of happiness though it is a characteristic.  I have happy days and sad, I have disappointment, anger and excitement all at different times.  But JOY, it’s unending.  Joy doesn’t go away because it’s not something I feel but rather a part of who I am.  It’s part of my identity in Christ.  It’s Christ within me that is Joy.

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