Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Joyful, who me?
I received an email from a friend from church a couple of weeks ago. She was asking me questions about homeschooling like 1) Why we homeschool? 2) What academic curriculum do we use? Etc. They are about to begin the journey of homeschooling and just needed some questions answered since her children have been in school and we started homeschooling after ours had been in school, too.
She went on to say something so encouraging to me....she said I was joyful. Joyful...you mean me? No,you could not mean me...I want to be joyful, but I am not. You must mean someone else...NOT ME! When I first read it I laughed, because I know myself so well. Then I thanked God.
You see, for the biggest part of my life I have been very pessimistic and fearful. I tend to always see the negative...I tend to over analyze things, dwell on the what ifs of life, fear the bad stuff, and worry. This has been a pattern of my life at times over the years. I have even used excuses such as I am just sensitive and things upset me easily, or I am introverted so I think heavily on things. I knew it was wrong, but I just wrote it off because I felt like people who were so joyful just had that personality trait and I didn't. But, God intends for everyone of us to exhibit the fruit of joy. We are not to wait around for things to get better or make us feel happy for the moment, we are commanded to be joyful always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
About 5 years ago, I began to see sinfulness in my life that I never knew existed. God was working on me to show me areas of my life where I needed to repent and obey Him. It was tough. I decided to study joy from God's Word. I found that having a joyful heart is an obedience issue. Yes, obedience again. The Bible says a lot about living a Christian life and it is not some mystical achievement for a few believers who has what it takes. No, it is about obeying what God says. God says we should be joyful.
Now, it is not something I have just wished on my life and it has happened. It is not that easy. I have had to pursue joy. I have had to put off wrongful thinking and put on joy, even though that is not my natural tendency.
I am on the chapter in Jerry Bridges book, *The Practice of Godliness* that pertains to the godly attribute of joy. I have longed for joy to be evident in my life. I want Christ to be elevated through my joy. But, being joyful is not enough. I must be continually growing in joy.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to our joy is sin. We must search our hearts and repent. Think about David in Psalm as he goes through times of depression and sorrow. He repents of his sin, he then had freedom from guilt, faith in God's deliverance, a testimony to God's unfailing love, and then rejoicing and singing. Thus,his joy is restored. So,it should be with us. Another stumbling block that Bridges mentions is misplaced confidence...which just means that we have confidence in our flesh--in our good works or religious attainment. Our joy must be on Christ and we has done for us. The last stumbling blocks that Bridges writes of are chastening from God and trials. These things are not enjoyable when they happen. We can find joy in knowing that God chastens those He loves. Our faith and character grow as we go through these things and our joy becomes greater as we endure.
I love how emphatic Paul is in Philippians 4:4 when he says:
Jerry Bridges says this so well:
So, when my friend said she noticed that I was joyful, I thanked God...that because of Him, I can have joy and continually be learning to be more joyful each day.
She went on to say something so encouraging to me....she said I was joyful. Joyful...you mean me? No,you could not mean me...I want to be joyful, but I am not. You must mean someone else...NOT ME! When I first read it I laughed, because I know myself so well. Then I thanked God.
You see, for the biggest part of my life I have been very pessimistic and fearful. I tend to always see the negative...I tend to over analyze things, dwell on the what ifs of life, fear the bad stuff, and worry. This has been a pattern of my life at times over the years. I have even used excuses such as I am just sensitive and things upset me easily, or I am introverted so I think heavily on things. I knew it was wrong, but I just wrote it off because I felt like people who were so joyful just had that personality trait and I didn't. But, God intends for everyone of us to exhibit the fruit of joy. We are not to wait around for things to get better or make us feel happy for the moment, we are commanded to be joyful always. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
About 5 years ago, I began to see sinfulness in my life that I never knew existed. God was working on me to show me areas of my life where I needed to repent and obey Him. It was tough. I decided to study joy from God's Word. I found that having a joyful heart is an obedience issue. Yes, obedience again. The Bible says a lot about living a Christian life and it is not some mystical achievement for a few believers who has what it takes. No, it is about obeying what God says. God says we should be joyful.
Now, it is not something I have just wished on my life and it has happened. It is not that easy. I have had to pursue joy. I have had to put off wrongful thinking and put on joy, even though that is not my natural tendency.
I am on the chapter in Jerry Bridges book, *The Practice of Godliness* that pertains to the godly attribute of joy. I have longed for joy to be evident in my life. I want Christ to be elevated through my joy. But, being joyful is not enough. I must be continually growing in joy.
One of the biggest stumbling blocks to our joy is sin. We must search our hearts and repent. Think about David in Psalm as he goes through times of depression and sorrow. He repents of his sin, he then had freedom from guilt, faith in God's deliverance, a testimony to God's unfailing love, and then rejoicing and singing. Thus,his joy is restored. So,it should be with us. Another stumbling block that Bridges mentions is misplaced confidence...which just means that we have confidence in our flesh--in our good works or religious attainment. Our joy must be on Christ and we has done for us. The last stumbling blocks that Bridges writes of are chastening from God and trials. These things are not enjoyable when they happen. We can find joy in knowing that God chastens those He loves. Our faith and character grow as we go through these things and our joy becomes greater as we endure.
I love how emphatic Paul is in Philippians 4:4 when he says:
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!
Jerry Bridges says this so well:
So the choice is ours. We can be joyless Christians, or we can be joyful Christians. We can go through life bored, glum ,and complaining, or we can rejoice in the Lord, in our names being written in heaven, in the hope of an eternal inheritance. It is both our privilege and our duty to be joyful. To be joyless is to dishonor God and to deny His love and His control over our lives. It is practical atheism. To be joyful is to experience the power of the Holy Spirit within us, and to say to a watching world, OUR GOD REIGNS.
So, when my friend said she noticed that I was joyful, I thanked God...that because of Him, I can have joy and continually be learning to be more joyful each day.
I am a stay at home mother to 4. I am very blessed to have a godly husband who loves the Lord and his family. I welcome the days of much needed grace,the times of sweet victories,and the tears of trials,knowing it is all for God's glory. I want my lifesong to sing to Him,the author and finisher of my faith. Soli Deo Gloria--To the Glory of God alone.
16 Comments:
Amen!! Great post, Kim. Thanks so much for these encouraging and exhorting words.
I have often wondered about the authenticity of my faith for one simple reason...my lack of joy. I discovered like you that since Paul's exhortation to Rejoice! is in the imperative, then it is a choice I make. I tend to be more melancholy than merry, but as I yield to the control of the Spirit within me, He will bear His fruit of joy...
Great post!
Thanks for the great post, Kim! You always have such encouraging things to write about. I have had to work on being joyful to, knowing it is a fruit of the spirit. Like what Lisa wrote, its a choice to yield to the Holy Spirit...When I read your blog, I picture you as a joyful person from the way it reads.
Kim,
This was a great post. I really over-think things, and that tends to lead to worry. We don't have children yet, and I have caught myself worrying about my husband's work schedule and the effect it will have on our children's evening activities. Weird huh? Why worry over that! I want to replace that with the peace and joy I have in Christ. Thank you for this. I really needed this lesson.
Yet again, I loved that post! I agree that it is a challenge to be joyful. FOr me, I am a pretty joyful person naturally (through grace, of course) , but when something goes wrong....that is my true test. And I usually fail miserably. Still praying for help in being joyful in the BAD TIMES as well as the good!
Loved this post :)
What a great post! I would also describe you as joyful even though I don't know you in person. You write such beautiful posts and have such a good knowledge of scripture. Our church is offering "Homeschooling with a meek and quiet spirit" on Wednesday nights along with our other choices for Bible studies. I don't homeschool, but it's something we pray about.
I am that over-thinking, over-analyzing person you were describing. I am trying so hard to change that.
Thanks for stopping by my blog. I am someone who needs to practice joy, too, or at least, optimism grounded in faith. I think I was born seeing the glass half-empty and lived out of fear much of my life. It's a hard habit to break. Harder than the curren coffee thing, for sure!
What a great post Kim, I can relate, though it is an area I still need to keep working on....I tend to worry and be impatient - two major "joy sappers"! But it is certainly an area I am working on and aware of, I think I have got a bit better at the joyful thing.
What a testimony to God being at work in your life, it is wonderful to see how God can change us! YOu can tell even from your blog that you are joyful and content.
How excellent a post this is Kim and so timely for me. You hit the nail on the head with some things and it is like all of a sudden I just understood where I need to make some changes.
Simply put, I believe that our Faith determines our attitudes and actions. Paul's exhortation to rejoice is, as Lisa said - a choice we must make. Through your writings, I have discovered you to be most joyful...and as for me, my true joy comes in knowing that my Redeemer lives.
This is such a good post! I struggle with being a bit melancholy at times, too, but this is a needed reminder to pursue joy. I love how you pointed out that lack of joy can be evidence of misplaced confidence. So true! Our hope must ever be secure in Jesus - and what joy that does bring, even in trials. Thank you for this excellent reminder!
Another book which I have been recommending is Beth Moore's new "Get out of that Pit," book! Excellent.
I can relate to your posting about joy and fear. We quiz our kids about FEAR all the time: FALSE EVIDENCE THAT APPEARS REAL.
I wish I would have learned that at an early age.
Just found your site. :)
Oh Kim, I absolutely loved the Jerry Bridges quote. I think I need to copy that out and post it somewhere. Awesome!!!
Laura
Fantastic! I find myself in the middle of a perfectly *normal* day with not real reason to be "moody", yet the tone of my voice and my countenance are reflective of the joyless attitude in my heart.
I catch myself (He catches me) and I realize what a travesty I am committing against my Savior!
It is a beautiful thing when you find that you are joyful in spite of yourself because He is illuminating His goodness through you. What a gift!
that is so awesome. your blog really encouraged me. I have just been thinking of joy. I think joy is quiet peaceful worship towards God. I turned on the classical music station and just drew what came to my mind. i ended up drawing this beautiful picture of roses and flowers. It was so amazing. It is so encouraging to read this on your blog. I have been struggling with joy for a long time, but now I am going to right down what i am thankful for and meditate on that. God bless. You have been such an encouragement to me.
a sister in Christ,
amy
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