Remembering to choose joy
There was a time that I would have been satisfied with being happy, but that was before I started to learn about joy, that fruit which the Spirit of God produces in us as we walk with him and learn to trust him.
Beth and I have been married for 48 years and if people would ask if I were happily married, I would say yes, even though we have certainly not always felt happy. I’ve heard it said that happiness is often dependent on the happenings in our life, so when things seem to be going well, we may be happy. On the other hand, joy is more focused on the condition of our heart. Even when Beth and I have not been happy because of differences or hardships we were facing, the intimacy of our relationship has produced a joyful marriage.
When we started in ministry in 1984, we had no idea how much we would need to depend on the joy that Jesus gives through his words to us and the Spirit produces in us (John 15:11). In Psalm 16:11 we read, “In your presence is fullness of joy.” Joy should be the best evidence of God’s presence with me; it is my inner condition of contentment regardless of outward circumstances. Certainly, I have not always been happy with what I’ve experienced in ministry over the years, nor have I always been joyful, but I have been learning that joy is also a choice based on what I know about God.
Ralph, a mentor and friend who is with the Lord now, used his retirement from teaching to encourage others regularly through monthly emails. This is what he wrote about choosing the fruit of joy:
“I choose joy . . . I will invite God to be God in every circumstance. I will refuse the temptation to be cynical. I will refuse to see people as anything less than human beings, created by God. I will refuse to see a problem as anything less than an opportunity to see God work.”
The fruit of joy is not something we work up, but something we need the Holy Spirit to produce in our lives when circumstances would dictate otherwise. In ministry, we share some of the best experiences with people, but we also walk with them through many of their worst. The challenge is to remain joyful through the good and bad that life brings.
“If you have no joy in your religion, there’s a leak in your Christianity somewhere.” (Billy Sunday)
In my experience, I’ve found certain “joy robbers” that regularly come to steal my joy.
Uncontrollable circumstances: Situations I did not see coming and certainly didn’t expect.
In James 1:2-3 we are told, “. . . count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.”
We can only “count it all joy” if we know some things about God. We know that he never changes, is always with us, and will always love us because he is love. Patience, I have come to know, means cheerful and hopeful endurance; it is the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances. I have certainly needed to practice endurance to keep my joy.
Unresolved doubts: Things I thought I knew until I was under pressure.
In James 1:6 we are encouraged to “. . . ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
When doubts come, we need to dig deeper into our trust in the Lord. This is when we choose to trust his wisdom rather than our own, learning to release the fruit of joy because of who he is, not what we are going through.
Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us: “Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
He is our defence and safe place where he restores us, refreshes us, and causes us to rejoice, or to be filled with joy again.
Things to remember about the joy of the Lord:
- It is not moved by circumstances – whether they are good or bad, God is able and willing to help.
- It is not limited by natural ability – it isn’t based on what seems possible in the moment.
- It is not ruled by feelings – often it is in spite of our feelings.
- It is released by a decision based on what we know – choosing life by letting God’s Word be the final word.
- It declares with our lips and our life what God’s Word says – choosing to worship instead of worry. If we do not worship, we may worry!
I encourage you as ministry leaders to use the opportunity in difficult times to remind yourself to choose joy!
“Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
Steve Fleming and his wife, Beth, are the program directors at our Ontario Kerith Retreats location. For more information about our retreats, visit KerithRetreats.ca.