It’s the time of the year where joy seems to fill the air. Most, including myself, would like to bottle this joy and keep it all year long. In fact, the joy of Christmas is meant to be kept, experienced, and given throughout the year. However, I’m better at letting my joy slip away than I am at keeping it. I want to keep it, but there are certain things that rob my joy and yours, too.
For example, when the unexpected happens and I can’t see a way out, my joy vanishes into the air like a puff of smoke. I’ve also found that when I begin living for myself, I tend to do selfish things and this robs my joy, too. Then, there’s that ugly “s” word–sin. It’s one of the biggest robbers of joy there is. That’s the bad news. The good news is my joy, and your joy, can be retrieved from these robbers!
How? I’m so glad you asked. I was reviewing my notes in preparation to give a Christmas talk and was reminded how David lost his joy and cried out to God for restoration. Within his story, we find steps to restoring our joy as well.
First, in Psalm 51, we see that David confessed his sin to God. David didn’t blame anyone else for his wrong-doings, he freely admitted he was the one at fault. David had began living selfishly which resulted in selfish acts that lead to his sin. When you and I sit on the throne of our lives instead of Christ, we are going to fall into the same trap. Perhaps sin in your life could be robbing you of your joy. Like David, will you confess it to God and ask Him to “restore the joy of your salvation?”
I like that David calls it the “joy of his salvation.” It doesn’t mean David lost his salvation. It means that he wants to experience the joy of forgiveness. There isn’t a more joyful Christian than one who has freshly been forgiven. There is nothing like having a clean slate between us and God…all accomplished by His amazing grace.
Secondly, David knows that his flesh is weak and he could find himself in the clutches of sin again. So, he asks God to sustain him. I love that! I usually miss this step. After I’ve sought God’s forgiveness, I forget to ask for His protection and strength to keep me from falling again. Not David. He asks God, “uphold me by your generous Spirit.” David knows that his only hope, his only way to joy filled victory is if God upholds him.
That thought creates a picture in my mind of a father holding up his son by the arm when he tumbles and falls. The father knows that if he simply lets the child hold his hand, he’ll tumble and fall for sure. However, a wise and caring father holds the arm of the child so that when he falls, the father can hold him up.
Joy can be ours throughout the holiday season and beyond if we continue to give of ourselves, find contentment in our circumstances, confess our sins, and look to God to uphold us in all things.
Wishing you a Joyful Day today and always…
Digging for Pearls says
One way I work at having joy daily is by keeping a “joy journal.” Each night I write several sentences about what I have to be thankful for and what brought me joy throughout the day.