Anchored in Joy
The secret of joy is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances. Elisabeth Elliot
Life seems to be a constant pursuit of things that we think will make us happy. We pursue ambitions, dreams, and material possessions that we believe will ultimately make us happy. There is a continual chasing after something. And often the happiness that we feel when we have obtained or achieved what we have been chasing after is here today and gone tomorrow. We have that initial rush of adrenaline and a sense that life is wonderful. We feel on top of the world. But this sense of happiness will not be able to sustain us when we face hardships and struggles in life. The Bible instead teaches us that it is joy, not happiness, that will carry us in times of trouble.
The subtitle of R.T. Kendall’s book, Pure Joy, says that joy is “The divine gift that sings in our heart even when things go wrong.” So Joy is not something we need to pursue, but it is God’s gift to us. A gift that we, as followers of Jesus Christ, can receive from Him when things go wrong in our lives.
Anchored in Joy
When we are anchored in Jesus Christ, we are anchored in joy. We are anchored in joy because we have been made righteous in Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection.
Psalm 112:1 (NLT) says,
“How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands”
When we have a reverent awe for our Lord and Saviour and a desire to obey what He says in His Word, then we will experience joy. And this joy is our anchor.
Verses 6-8 go on to say, They do not fear bad news; they confidently trust the Lord to care for them. They are confident and fearless and can face their foes triumphantly.
When we are anchored in Jesus, we have a confident trust in the Lord that cannot be shaken. This comes from the joy of knowing an all-powerful God who will cause us to be triumphant in Him. We are not afraid of bad news. We are not afraid when trials and troubles come. We see it as an opportunity for joy, which is what James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote in a letter to his brothers and sisters in Christ who were facing persecution and many other trials. He says in James 1: 2-4,
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
The joy that James talks about doesn’t come from the trials themselves, but from the refining that comes because of them. The refining comes about when we allow God to have His way in our lives during the trials. The refining shapes our character so that we can endure the hardship we are going through and find His joy. Not happiness that is here today and gone tomorrow, but divine joy that has eternal value
So, no matter what circumstances we face, we are anchored in joy, and our anchor will always hold fast because the Word says:
His joy is our strength (Nehemiah 8:11)
Each new day brings His blessings (Psalm 118:24)
His joy is like medicine bringing healing (Proverbs 17:22)
We find joy in His presence (Psalm 16:11)
His joy brings hope (Romans 15:13)
The Lord gives his people perpetual joy when they walk in obedience to him. Dwight L. Moody
Reflection
Do you find that you are chasing after things that have no eternal value? Things that are here today and gone tomorrow. Think about how you can pursue the joy of the Lord instead of temporary happiness.
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for making me righteous through your death on the cross and resurrection. Forgive me, Lord, if I have been pursuing temporary happiness instead of Your joy. Show me, Lord, how I can be anchored in your joy so that when I face difficulties, I will have a confident trust in you and not be afraid. I pray that my heart will always be anchored in joy, no matter the circumstances I face. Help me, Lord, in the difficulties I am facing now to find your joy, peace and hope. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
