Today's world is obsessed with finding the activities, people, or just things that make them feel happy and content. These aren't wrong things to want, it's built into our nature to yearn after things that fill our voided hearts. However, I do think I often waste my time attempting to fill that void with things other than what can truly satisfy it. Even filling my schedule and heart with service projects or church activities cannot satisfy that void in my heart. So what am I to do?
Joy is a concept mentioned many times in Christianity, but i don't think I have ever understood it's true meaning until now. Joy is the complete self-surrendering and self-sacrificing of my will to God's ultimate plan and purpose. Notice there are no emotions attached to the definition of joy, it's an act of devotion and obedience. I think I tagged happiness with joy too often which led to my thinking that I had to be happy to be experiencing joy. Now this doesn't mean that you cannot have happiness as a result of joy, but cease to think that any joy comes from happiness. Jesus Christ gives us the best example of what true joy looks like in the life of a human. By surrendering Himself to the Father's redemptive purpose to come to earth, be spat upon, hung on a cross, and raised to life after three days, Jesus exhibited genuine joy. I guarantee that Jesus was not going though all these events with a smile on His face out of happiness, but He was able to redeem every sinner on this earth through His ultimate surrender and sacrifice.
One of the dangers to losing joy is overthinking and self-awareness. I am a HUGE over-thinker and I tend to analyze all the details of every situation. This can be super dangerous because it slowly becomes a bottomless pit of confusion, doubt, and worry. Everything is no longer black and white, but gray, and I struggle to hear my Shepherd's voice call out to me. I begin to get distracted by what I should and shouldn't do instead of just focusing on surrendering myself to Christ. When I lose focus on my relationship with my Heavenly Father and begin focusing on these distracting thoughts I lose my trust in God's purpose. Losing trust in God ultimately leads me to believe that I have the ability to do things on my own, and believing I can control the outcomes of my situations will lead to a prideful heart which is something God cannot use.
"The cares of this world, said Jesus, will choke God's Word."
-Oswald Chambers
When we completely surrender ourselves to God then we can cease to carry the burden of our distractions and fulfill His purpose. We can experience life to the fullest, freedom beyond all other, and pursue joy with passion.
Joy is a concept mentioned many times in Christianity, but i don't think I have ever understood it's true meaning until now. Joy is the complete self-surrendering and self-sacrificing of my will to God's ultimate plan and purpose. Notice there are no emotions attached to the definition of joy, it's an act of devotion and obedience. I think I tagged happiness with joy too often which led to my thinking that I had to be happy to be experiencing joy. Now this doesn't mean that you cannot have happiness as a result of joy, but cease to think that any joy comes from happiness. Jesus Christ gives us the best example of what true joy looks like in the life of a human. By surrendering Himself to the Father's redemptive purpose to come to earth, be spat upon, hung on a cross, and raised to life after three days, Jesus exhibited genuine joy. I guarantee that Jesus was not going though all these events with a smile on His face out of happiness, but He was able to redeem every sinner on this earth through His ultimate surrender and sacrifice.
One of the dangers to losing joy is overthinking and self-awareness. I am a HUGE over-thinker and I tend to analyze all the details of every situation. This can be super dangerous because it slowly becomes a bottomless pit of confusion, doubt, and worry. Everything is no longer black and white, but gray, and I struggle to hear my Shepherd's voice call out to me. I begin to get distracted by what I should and shouldn't do instead of just focusing on surrendering myself to Christ. When I lose focus on my relationship with my Heavenly Father and begin focusing on these distracting thoughts I lose my trust in God's purpose. Losing trust in God ultimately leads me to believe that I have the ability to do things on my own, and believing I can control the outcomes of my situations will lead to a prideful heart which is something God cannot use.
"The cares of this world, said Jesus, will choke God's Word."
-Oswald Chambers
When we completely surrender ourselves to God then we can cease to carry the burden of our distractions and fulfill His purpose. We can experience life to the fullest, freedom beyond all other, and pursue joy with passion.