May 6, 2017 - There I was. Sitting in a hospital watching , waiting for it to happen. For the first time in my life I was speechless. We were about to have a baby. Oh it wasn't the first time that I had been in a delivery room. I had been there when all my daughters were born. I remembered the joy I experienced with each one. But this was different. This was the first Grandchild. My baby was having a baby. When Noah was born, I'll never forget the feeling of joy that swept over me. Not just happiness, but pure, inexplicable joy. I've been blessed to have that feeling of joy with a new grandchild nine times over now, and hopefully will experience it many more times. But it never gets old.
Joy is the second fruit of the Spirit. It is more than happiness because it comes from God and is part of the nature of God. The word "joy" comes from the word "rejoice" and there definition is often shared. They are also used in the bible almost interchangeably. Happiness is a state of mind, where joy is a state of heart. Happiness is often dependent on our circumstances and environment. Joy is dependent on neither. Joy is the inexplicable assurance that God is in control. When you have the joy of the Holy Spirit no matter what you are going through you can draw strength from God. In Neh 8:10 the prophet says "Do not sorrow for the joy of the Lord is your strength." Joy is the power God gives us to use to get through anything.
The joy of the Lord is how the Apostle Paul sang while he was chained to the wall in a prison. That kind of joy is referred to as the "joy unspeakable" in the bible. You know when you experience something so wonderful there is just no words to describe it! That's the kind of joy God has in store for you when you trust Him. I can't describe it. You are going to have to experience it for yourself. It would be like eating the best steak you have ever eaten and trying to explain it to a friend. Finally you have to say, you are just going to have to eat one to know what I mean! Its something that just has to be experienced to truly understand.
Here's the good news. You can experience that kind of joy by giving control of your life over to Jesus. Its His promise of salvation to those who trust Him, that will allow you to experience the true joy that comes with the in dwelling of the Holy Spirit. Don't be afraid to ask. John 16: 24 says "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask and you will receive, that your joy may be full." Joy!! Its yours for the asking.
I'm just sayin
Mike Belgard
