Let Joy Ring Out

When someone is overtly joyous and positive and maybe just plain chipper, I am one of those folks that gets a little be annoyed. I am put off by all of the constant laughs and giggles and often think, does anyone think anything to be serious. There seems to be this oblivion to all that is going on and no sense of urgency to take care of things, much less take care of things the right way.

“⁴⁰And all the people went up after him, playing on pipes, and rejoicing with great joy, so that the earth was split by their noise.” — 1 Kings 1:40 (ESV)

This morning as I began my study on “joy” I was hoping to find how I can be more joyous and instead was led to this passage and found that I should let joy ring out. I am not sure why people are joyous and need not know to a large degree.

“⁴¹Adonijah and all the guests who were with him heard it as they finished feasting. And when Joab heard the sound of the trumpet, he said, “’What does this uproar in the city mean?’” — 1 Kings 1:41 (ESV)

This is me. What is all this joy and noise? I look at where I am and cannot understand all of the commotion and the reason that others are not in the same place as me. I expect that others should be acting and experiencing as I am.

The condition of others is not my concern. I have to concern myself with my own joy and not with that of others. I have to be in my place and not looking to others with the exception of looking for the joy of the LORD. And maybe, just maybe, that is what I am missing. I may be missing that which is the joy of the LORD. Maybe I am missing the example of Christ in those demonstrating joy. I have to be looking for the opportunities to experience joy as opposed to the joyous experience of others.

I have to let joy ring out and be happy for those experiencing it. I have to look for joy in the LORD and allow others to do the same. I have to look to the commotion and celebrate the joy as opposed to wondering what it is all about. I have to look for joy in my own experiences and seek out those chances to let it ring out for the world to experience and join.

What have you been seeing as relates to joy in the world? Do you find yourself looking to the commotion and wondering what is going on? What if you just allowed the joy to be there and expressing your own joy for the world to experience as well?