Fullness of Joy
Friday, August 16
Fullness of Joy
These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. John 15:11
A few weeks ago, I enjoyed watching the Paris 2024 Olympics. But as powerful and intoxicating as the emotions were in the moment, it was “faux joy,” and I realized it evaporated quickly. It didn’t take long for me to switch sides, suddenly start rooting for another country and if they did not win, I felt disappointed. This up and down happiness was for the sports, and it reminded me of the ways in which believers try to find joy in the temporary things of this world.
Maybe sports aren’t your passion, and you cannot relate to the fleeting joy as I described it above but you don’t have to look very far for other sources of faux joy. We careen from thing to thing, hoping the next pleasure will give us the emotional high that is mistakenly called joy.
Faux joy makes you smile for a moment but leaves you empty and searching again before very long. Here are a few examples:
- Spending more than we should chasing the temporary high that purchasing and possessing give us.
- Eating more than we should, feeling good in the moment only to regret the choices later.
- Seeking entertainment that is not only ungodly, but hoping that the numbing joy of fantasy worlds will help us cope with the real world we live in.
- Staying busy and unproductive, hoping that achievement will make us feel good about ourselves and our lives.
Jesus speaks of a joy that is complete and full. This fullness of joy comes from a deep, abiding relationship with Him, and it is a promise for all who believe. Joy is an inner peace and rest, based on what you know to be true, resulting in a life of thankfulness and expectancy.
I pray that over these past two week you’ve discovered that real joy is not just a feeling; it is a lifestyle. It is not the result of things that are happening around me, but a sturdy rest and peace that I bring to the things around me that change the way I think about and interact with them.
Spend time in worship and gratitude today, thanking Jesus for the fullness of joy He offers. Reflect on the ways He has brought joy into your life and commit to seeking Him wholeheartedly.
Author Paul Tripp describes real joy as being ‘vertical and not horizontal’. He says real joy results from being in a personal relationship with God the Ruler of the world. Real joy is rooted in a belief that what God has told you is reliable and accurate.
Prayer for today: Dear God, thank You for the fullness of joy You offer. Help me to seek You with all my heart and to live in the joy that only You can provide. Amen.