Let Joy be your Continual Feast
The lead up to my birthday was a challenging one because my naughty little body had gone on strike. I've learnt to pace myself in all I do, in order to decrease fibro fatigue and pain. But sometimes … just sometimes, in spite of my exhaustion, events that I know God wants me to take on board are thrust upon me. And this was one of those times! On Tuesday morning my energy tank was completely empty. But … Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were all brimming over with things to do and people to meet up with. And so I went head on, like running into an oncoming storm! My pain levels shot up to excruciating heights while my dwindling energy battery ran into minus!
Thankfully … on Friday, though pain and fatigue screeched in my ears. I finally had time to rest, I prayed fervently that my depleted energy reserves would be replenished, so I'd enjoy my birthday. Unfortunately … my hopes were dashed. Don't get me wrong - I did have a lovely day! My beloved spoilt me so very much … his lavish gifts and concern and love filled me to the brim, a cup that overflowed. I delighted in connecting with family and friends, feeling appreciated and loved. It was a beautiful sunny day, topped with beauty, love, gifts and gracious words that nourished my soul. I even licked a delicious Birthday Ice cream Cone!! But … when I'm severely fatigued, it's hard to feel joyful. Sure, I was grateful. But oh! Constant weariness can be very hard to cope with!
Perhaps God allowed my physical discomfort because of what He's been teaching me this past year … to learn to suffer well. And perhaps my birthday was a good opportunity to practice my new attitude towards suffering? I couldn't feel as joyful as I would, had I less pain or fatigue. But I could BE JOYFUL. And I was! What's the difference, you might ask! Oh! There's a big difference. Not once does scripture ask us to feel joyful. But over and over again it commands us to Be Joyful. The Message Bible puts it like this:
Let Joy be your continual feast. Make your life a prayer.
And in the midst of everything, be always giving thanks'.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So … how do we do that? How do we rejoice and give thanks when life is difficult, when we are bone weary or ill or when circumstances lead us to difficult places? The truth is that our peace and joy don't come from what happens to us. Peace and Joy don't arise from other people either. Other people are human like us and will often fail us. Our peace and joy are a gift from the Father, as we walk in tune with His Holy Spirit. I was given many splendid gifts this birthday and I delight in them all. But the most precious gift was an intangible one, presented to me, the day after my birthday.
Right through the service at church on Sunday, God revealed afresh how much He loved me, making me cry ... joyful tears they were! I knew I had to go up for prayer. The visiting pastor and his wife were so wonderfully compassionate! What they shared with me, told me that God knows everything about me, that He cares deeply and is looking after me, as if I were His precious, new born baby! I am safe in His tender loving care. A precious unsought gift it was and my joy tank overflowed. I FELT joy then, as God splashed it freely over me, a perfume that filled the room. What a perfect gift from a perfect Daddy who loves me with an unfailing love!
Yes, He loves you and me, dear one, with an everlasting, unimaginable, indescribable love. "God is so sovereign over the disasters and disappointments of our lives that He is able to make all of them serve our everlasting joy. So we can be "Sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." John Piper.
Doesn't that say it all?
So how can I cultivate a life attitude of JOY?
1. Learn to view life through God's eyes
2. Learn to anticipate future joy eagerly.
3. Learn to lament grief, God's way
4. Learn to be content
5. Learn to suffer well
6. Learn to find joy, however small, and to bask in it
7. Learn not to take life too seriously
8. Learn to laugh easily
9. Learn to shower joy on others
10 Learn to find joy in Jesus
God's challenge to me this New Year is to live 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 at all times. Our present suffering will not last forever – because of course, life on earth is only a miniscule moment in time. Let's turn our eyes upon Jesus, surrendering to His Story, trusting God completely, letting go of our own agenda. Let's allow God to be God!
So take my hand, dear fellow traveller. He's got this. He's got you, as well, you know! God will work all things together for our eternal good and for His glory!
Yes, we can be sure of it. Let's rejoice in anticipation and sing songs of joy!
For Now ...
Let Joy be your continual feast.
Make your life a prayer.
And in the midst of everything, be always giving thanks'.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
The Sure Promise for the future:
And those the Lord has rescued will return.
They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads.
Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away. Isaiah 35:10
