Having Joy, In Spite Of....

When you think of the word Joy, what's the first thought about comes to mind? Is it happiness? Laughter? Fun? Well, if so, you're on the right track. However, real joy isn't always contingent upon your happiness, laughter or bouts of fun. Dictionary.com tells us that joy is the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying; keen pleasure; elation. Although happiness is usually accompanied by joy, it's not always. It is very well as normal to find joy in the midst of frustration. How so?

     Joy is a fruit of the spirit. It's not just a reaction toward a situation. Real joy goes a bit deeper than that. There are times in your marriage where you will just be flat out frustrated at things. Your spouse may not always treat you the way you'd like to be treated. Your finances may look a hot mess and as if you'll never get out of debt. Your children may cause you to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Your in a marriage, yet, still feel lonely. And to be honest, your spouse might just get on your last nerve sometimes. How in the world can you find joy in the midst of those stumbling blocks? Truthfully, you can deal with those minut frustrations and still have an unspeakable joy!

1 Peter 1:8 says "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible (unspeakable) and glorious joy.

I often compare our marriage relationship to our relationship with Christ (since, in fact, marriage is a representation of God's love for us as the bride of Christ). In this scripture, Peter is explaining how although we have not seen him (Jesus) you love him, and even though we do not see him (Jesus) now, we believe in him (Jesus) and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. This is the joy that is brought on by our faith in Christ.

Now, God never promised that our lives as Christians would be peaches and cream. Instead, he went as far as explaining how you should rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. (1 Peter 4:13)

And, in 1Thessaloneians 1:6 Paul was speaking to the church of Thessaloneians when he said in verse 6 "You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit." (1Thessaloneians 1:6)

Similarily, in marriage we should hang in there with the fullness of joy simply because of our faith in Christ that no matter what we are facing in our marriage, God can heal, restore and redem.

Psalm 16:11 You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;

In Your right hand there are pleasures forever (NASB)

    When you are filled with the joy of the Lord, you could be experiencing a category 5 hurricane in your marriage, but your faith (even the size of a mustard seed) is what's keeping your wind calm and steady. As I mentioned before, real joy isn't contingent upon happiness [always steming from good things.] If anything, our joy comes from God because He is the who can turn any situation into a blessed experience.  This week, I encourage you to hold fast to the word and not look at your situation with your natural eye. Instead, put on this fruit of the Spirit and trust that God will take care of you and your marriage, regardless of how frightening it looks sometimes. Don't let the frustrations of life get you down. Pray and ask the Lord to fill you with His unspeakable joy. This joy will not fade away in the fire.

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