Sorrow is not the end of the story. Too often I believe that the end of the event is in the sorrow caused or experienced. We lose a loved one, we experience a hardship, we recognize struggles in someone, we are placed in an event where there seems to be no winning, and yet, there is almost always more to come and more to experience.

“²²So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” — John 16:22 (ESV)

Jesus is speaking to the disciples here and letting them know that He will soon be leaving them, and then He will return. He is explaining that when He leaves, there will be a sense of despair that will feel as though it will not end. Then, when He returns, there will again be joy in their lives.

I believe the story here to be larger than just in the context of Jesus and the disciples. I will experience despair and then joy later as the event unfolds. I have to push through the despair, knowing that there is joy to be had later. When will later be, known only to God, but later will come. I have to know that sorrow is a part of the process and that God only wants what is ultimately best for me and not just what is best for me in the moment.

I, as man, have a desire for all things to be good all the time and dealing with adversity and despair are felt as the end point. The reality is that it is only a point and there is plenty that came before and there will be that which comes after. I have to deal with the present and let the future come with the expectation that God prevails.

“³⁴Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” — Matthew 6:34 (ESV)

Today is where I have to work and tomorrow will come in due time. I have to know that the sorrow and despair of today are only temporary and likely will lead to joy in the end. I think of death of loved ones and know that in the moment, that day, things are sorrowful. And then there is the realization of joy for that which is “fully” experienced. Lori recently lost her grandfather and where we are sorrowful for losing him, he led a full 100 year life and is no longer dealing with the health problems and pain he was experiencing at the time. The day was tough, yet the tomorrow was joyous.

What are you dwelling on today? Are you hung up on the despair, adversity, or sorrow of the day? What if you look at the sorrow as the today and allow tomorrow to present the joy of the LORD?

“⁵I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” — John 15:5 (ESV)

The above is my favorite verse. It has been so for many years. Although, it has been, I have been led here this morning as I study the word “joy” still.

“¹⁰If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. ¹¹These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” — John 15:10-11 (ESV)

The above verses are where I was led this morning, and my learning was combined with what I already knew. I have to abide in God to accomplish all that He has for me. When I am engaged with God and His plans for me, I have His backing, support, guidance, and provision in the working of His plans. I will have no trouble accomplishing the tasks He has for me. I have to remember also that the result of His plan may not be what I expected. I may see success in the task as one thing, and God knows it to be something else entirely. I have to abide in Him to know that the result is that of God’s design and not for me and my expectations.

And this is where the new learning comes in. When I abide in God, I am led down the path He has for me and not the one I want for myself. God leads me to receive that which I need and not that which I want and desire. I have to be fully open to the receipt of my needs and not get so focused on that which I want. It is in the accepting of all that God is and provides for my needs that I am able to be content and ultimately find joy, and ultimately finding that my joy will be full.

The love of God is amazing. Knowing that He is fully engaged in and with me in spite of me. He unconditionally devotes Himself to me at my every turn. I have to do the same. I have to remember that it is His will to be done and not mine. I am a brother of Christ and just as Jesus surrendered to God’s will on the cross, I have to surrender to His will in this world and in all situations that are, frankly, much less than death. It is in my surrender to God and my love for Him, unconditionally, that I will find the joy that He has for me in this world and can carry forward to heaven where I will find my final reward.

I have to abide in God and submit to Him and all that He has for me. When I do, I will find, not just joy, but full joy that will carry me through this world and into my eternal life with Him.

What does your relationship with God look like and reveal? Are you really allowing Him to take over your life and drive your work? What if you where to abide in God and follow Him fully and unconditionally as He does with you so that you are able to find the full joy He has for you?

“⁹And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.” — Luke 2:9 (ESV)

The shepherds were in the field tending to their flock and were startled and afraid of the angels appearance to them. I don’t blame them one bit. All of a sudden there is light in the sky and all around you and voices are being heard, and not just to me, but everyone can see and hear the same thing. I would be afraid as well.

Thing is, this fear for the shepherds was getting in the way of their hearing of the joy that had come in the form of Jesus. Their fear was preventing them from hearing and subsequently their experiencing that joy for themselves.

“¹⁰And the angel said to them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. ¹¹For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’” — Luke 2:10-11 (ESV)

The angel of the Lord was bringing joy to them and knew of the fear that had consumed the shepherds. Therefor, let them know that there was no reason to be afraid as the angel was there to bring them the joyous news of the birth of Christ.

The fear that was welling up in the shepherds was clouding their ability to hear and comprehend the joy of the moment. I know for me, I have had similar experiences with missing out due to fear. I have missed great things for a time until I am able to get over the fear to experience the event.

Fear can be healthy in that it is there to guard against falling into something that may harm me. I have to have a certain amount of fear, although really it should be more caution than fear. I have to be cautious in my approach to things to understand them. When I am able to understand I am able to move forward. I have to remember that being afraid may keep me from something and that something could be the joy of the LORD.

I have to remember that God will protect me. He guards me. He wraps His arms around me and ensures that I am not harmed. He is for me and He wants joy for me. I have only to accept Him and His protection and proceed knowing that He is there. I have to push through any fear as I know that it is irrational in the name of the Lord as I have eternal life through Him. Push through the fear to experience the joy He has for me.

What are you missing out on as a result of fear? Are not doing something due to being afraid of what might be? What if you were to reduce the fear to caution and push through to experience the joy of the LORD?

“⁴⁴For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” — Luke 1:44 (ESV)

Mary went to visit Elizabeth and upon her arrival, John was overjoyed at the presence of the LORD. This sounds like no real big deal, except that John had not been born and would not for the next three or so months. He was still in the womb of Elizabeth. It was being in the presence of the yet to be born King that the joy was found.

John knew that the King was there and was exclaiming that even when no one would see him. His mother knew, and those in her physical presence knew. John did not leap for everyone to see, he leaped with joy.

Anticipation can be as powerful as the event itself. This was the anticipation of the coming of Jesus and John was joyous. I have gone into situations myself knowing that something was to happen and the anticipation was overwhelming. My wedding to Lori over 26 years ago, I was awe struck at the thought of becoming her husband. The birth of Bryson and Aarron, I was anxious at the thought of becoming their father. And the greatest of all, the reward of heaven once my work for God is done, I am over joyed at what that will bring. Just knowing of the coming of these things brings joy.

John anticipated the coming of Jesus and was overjoyed. He leaped at just being in the presence of the unborn savior, even as he was unborn himself. Another demonstration of the life of all and the connection to the Lord is there, even before we face this world. I was a child of God before my physical birth, even as I was in the womb of my mother. I have to remember that and bring the joy to the LORD now just as I would have then.

When did you first experience joy? Even now, are you experiencing the joy of the LORD? What if you were to step back and realize that the joy of the LORD began even before you were even physically born into this world?

I will continually face adversity in my life. I will not have the easy time of it, at least most of the time. As a Christ follower, I will have persecutors and detractors and those that will simply turn away due to the truth that will flow in the name of the LORD. But, that it is that adversity and in those times of being persecuted that I should rise up and know that I will have the joy of the LORD, even though the world may be against me.

“¹⁷Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

¹⁸yet I will rejoice in the LORD;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”

— Habakkuk 3:17-18 (ESV)

Habakkuk experienced even worse than I can even imagine. Without stores to survive, he still turned to the joy of the LORD. I may only experience adversity in the actions I am taking for the LORD, I will still likely have all that I need. I will likely not experience the lack of food or provisions as the LORD will care for me in that when I place my trust in Him. Yet, adversity I will experience and have the chance to simply rejoice in the joy of the LORD, just as Habakkuk.

I see that I am living in a world where there is a lack of reliance in the LORD. I see that the world is struggling as to where to turn in times of adversity. I see that when the difficulty in life arises, they natural tendency of society is to blame someone and look to those in authority to “fix” it for them so that the adversity and difficulty will just go away and there is again the ability to skate through with everything being just as wanted.

The thing is that the world will not be the way I want it. The world is being corrupted by the evil one. The evil one is creating the difficulty and the adversity and I cannot continue to cry foul and is not taking the chance to seek the joy of the LORD and do something about it. I have to seek the joy of the LORD and know that I can and will overcome with His help. I know that the joy of the LORD is greater than anything and as Habakkuk says in verse 19 below, “God, the Lord, is my strength”.

“¹⁹GOD, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer’s;

he makes me tread on my high places.

To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.”

— Habakkuk 3:19 (ESV)

Where are you looking for joy? Are you experiencing adversity and difficulty and seeking someone to take care of it for you? What if you approached everything with the knowing that “God, the Lord, is my strength” and you can overcome that adversity as a result of the joy of the LORD?

I have forgotten over time how beneficial it is to have joy. It brings great feelings in the morning and sustains through the day. It bring smiles to the faces of others. And it softens all of the adversity that becomes us as we have perspective. It also brings on a celebration of and for you.

“¹²For you shall go out in joy

and be led forth in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall break forth into singing,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

¹³Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall make a name for the LORD,

an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”

— Isaiah 55:12-13 (ESV)

I was so encouraged this morning in my reading and study of the word “joy”. Here I found the celebration that comes when I approach from a point of joy. I am the target of the celebration. As I go along, the singing and the clapping is for me. That which comes along is turned to good and the bad is overcome.

I have to bring joy each day. I have to be joyous at every turn. No matter the circumstances I may find myself in, they are only the physical and I have to turn to the spiritual joy and march on. I have to know that the physical circumstance is only temporary and the joy that I have from the Spirit of the LORD is eternal and that I will be celebrated for that joy.

What does your approach look like? Are you down due to your circumstances? What if you were to look to the joy of the LORD and reap the reward of the celebration meant for you thanks to that joy?

This morning as I read and study more of the word “joy” I am brought to Isaiah 51 and find reference to Zion. I will admit that I have always been confused as to Zion and this morning I dug in a bit more for clarity.

Zion is more than just a place on a map. Yes, there is a physical place of Mount Zion, but Zion is considerably more that just that physical location. It is the Kingdom of God, and therefore will be all encompassing as far as spiritually. We may think in the physical, yet the Kingdom of God is spiritual and can be found any and everywhere. I do not have to go to a place to be with God, I can do so from wherever I might be.

As for joy and Zion.

“³For the LORD comforts Zion;

he comforts all her waste places

and makes her wilderness like Eden,

her desert like the garden of the LORD;

joy and gladness will be found in her,

thanksgiving and the voice of song.”

— Isaiah 51:3 (ESV)

I can find joy in the Kingdom of God. I can find joy in Zion. When I am seeking Zion, I am pursuing righteousness and that is when I will find that joy and gladness.

“¹Listen to me, you who pursue righteousness,

you who seek the LORD:

look to the rock from which you were hewn,

and to the quarry from which you were dug.”

— Isaiah 51:1 (ESV)

The joy found in Zion is only for those who are pursuing her, those who are seeking the LORD. That joy IS the joy of the LORD. I have to have hope that I will find, act to seek, and then I will receive at the appointed time.

Joy is found in Zion and is for those pursuing her. I will be one pursuing.

Where are you looking to find joy? Are you looking in the places outside of Zion? What if you were to seek Zion and pursue her knowing that when you seek the LORD, you will find the joy of the LORD there?

I have heard the saying that you will reap what you sow. And Paul says the same in his letter to the Galatians.

“⁸For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.” — Galatians 6:8 (ESV)

Notice in the verse that the reaping and sowing is not just for the positive winnings in life, but for that which is not Godly as well. When taking on actions, more of the same will be received.

Where it is not referenced in my bible. I see the correlation or have the idea that Paul may have pulled such a concept from Isaiah 35 as he is speaking to returning to the LORD.

“¹⁰And the ransomed of the LORD shall return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy,

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.”

— Isaiah 35:10 (ESV)

What I see here in this verse is that when I am in the presence of the LORD as one of His, I will bring with me joy. And in exchange for the joy I will receive more of the same. This gives me hope. And as I have discussed that hope will lead to action, which will lead to joy.

I have to remember that the LORD has provided the way for me to reach His joy and that way is filled with joy. I have to just approach being filled with joy and I will receive more of the same.

I am to live my life filled with joy, and that joy begins here, as I am sitting and studying the word of God early in the morning, undisturbed and without distraction. I have to remember that to truly gain knowledge I have to continue that deep study and the key is to be without distraction to the focus on the LORD will be full. In my study I will have the opportunity to celebrate all that the LORD has provided and will gain from that provision just what He has for me and that comfort, protection, guidance, and joy in the attaining all of the former.

I must work to be joyous at all that the LORD has provided and will provide. That joy will generate being content in all. I will be able to arrive at the LORD and take on the work He has for me with that joy and know that when I arrive in His presence, I will receive more of the same.

For you, what approach are you having in life? Are you simply working to survive? What if you approached all with joy, knowing that when you arrive in the presence of the LORD, you will receive even more of the same?

I have written on the ideas of focusing on joy and having joy in the morning, this morning I read in Proverbs 12 and found the reminder to plan for joy.

“²⁰Deceit is in the heart of those who devise evil,

but those who plan peace have joy.”

— Proverbs 12:20 (ESV)

I have the belief that I should have plans on top of plans and contingencies on top of contingencies, why then is having a plan for joy such a hard thing for me to embrace. I have to be better at planning for the joy of the LORD and not just “hoping” for it to be there (remembering that hope leads to action which leads to joy). I have to look at planning and the work of the LORD to bring the joy of the LORD.

Those that do evil, plan for that evil. The evil is created and acted on. I should do the same with joy. I have to create the opportunities to have and act bring about joy. I have to look to the chance to have joy, first and foremost, for me and then when I have joy, I will be able to spread that joy to others in the world. But, I have to plan for it so that I have direction and meaning and not just spontaneity.

Coaches put together game plans. Leaders put together business plans. Pastors put together sermon plans. Philanthropists put together service plans. I should be putting together joy plans. I have to wake up in the morning and focus on joy, but not just the joy for me but in the plan for the joy of the LORD to be had by all.

All of this starts with knowing the word of the LORD and understanding our purpose. I know that my mission in life is to “Improve lives through growth and learning as an example of Christ’s Love” and that as I am reminded, starts with planning for it to happen. I have to plan for the growth and learning. I have to plan to get the message to others. I have to plan for the LORD to shine through me. I have to plan to bring joy to the world.

How are you going about your day? Are you just hoping that it will happen in a positive way? What if you planned for the day and more importantly planned for the joy of the LORD in your life so that you are able to bring that joy to the world?

Hope is not a plan. Hope is a guide to action. Action is the means to joy.

That seems like a long approach to the end result, why am I not just able to walk into joy without all the extra like hope and then action.

“²⁸The hope of the righteous brings joy,

but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”

— Proverbs 10:28 (ESV)

It is the second part of the above verse that I have to remember when I begin to think of getting to the end without the work. When I begin to expect things to happen quickly or without any work or other action, I will find myself in the mindset of the wicked. Things that are worth having all take work and that work is action and not just thinking about it. Hope is not a plan.

Napoleon Hill wrote the book, “Think and Grow Rich”. Without reading the book, one might think that all you have to do is think about something and you will bring it into existence. Well to some degree that may be true, because everything that done that is worth something has to be thought about first, before action is taken. There has to be a commitment to the thing fully and wholly.

I can think of what I would like to happen, hope, yet that does not make the thing happen. I can think about getting a new car, but at some point I have to take action to get the car. I cannot just think it into existence. Hope works the same. I can have all of the hope available, yet without action, it is only a mental exercise. I have to use that hope to guide me into taking action and working toward the accomplishment just to the end. It is action that comes from the direction of the hope that leads to the end result.

I have the light of the LORD and the truth of the LORD that provides for and keeps me on the path to joy. It is the hope of reaching the joy of the LORD that gets me on the path in the first place. Without hope, I have no direction to even travel. I will simply wander around in the dark searching. I have to use the hope of the LORD to get me to the path. I then have to take action and move along the path remembering the hope that got me here and using the light of the LORD to see where to continue my journey. I will use the truth of the LORD to keep me on the path as I move toward the joy of the LORD. But all of that begins with the hope of the LORD and using that hope to lead to action as I seek the joy of the LORD.

What are your expectations as regards joy of the LORD? Are you hoping for the joy of the LORD and not working to make it happen? What if you were to have hope that would guide your actions to reach the joy of the LORD?