“Father, I pray they will have the fullness of my joy in them” (Jn.17:13). “What has happened to the joy you once had?” (Gal.4:15). Won’t you revive us again, that we may rejoice in you? Show us your unfailing love, Lord, and grant us your salvation. (Ps.85:6-7). “Ask and you will receive abundant joy” (Jn.16:24).
Lord Jesus… Oh that we would take our joy as seriously as you do. You pray that we might know the fullness of your joy—as astonishing as that might seem to us. So how do we leak, leave, and lose our joy? It what ways have we become a kill-joy to our own heart? I have firsthand experience of these 7.
Sometimes we starve our hearts of the joy nutrients of the Gospel, and we start binging on things that cannot satisfy (Isa.55:1-3).
Sometimes we strangle our hearts with cords of unforgiveness, bitterness, and resentment—choking the life out of our joy (Job 5:2).
Sometimes we deceive our hearts—looking to you plus something for our primary joy—romance, riches, reputation.
Sometimes comparison sabotages our joy—fueling our envy, killing our gratitude, poisoning our contentment.
Sometimes we un-guard our hearts—throwing our spiritual life into cruise-control. We forget we have an enemy who hates you and us. The temporal pleasure of sin supplants the eternal joys of knowing and delighting in you.
Sometimes we exhaust our hearts by living at the pace our idols demand, rather than living at the pace of your grace and the rhythms of the Gospel.
Sometimes our aging hearts reveal our humanity and underscore the most constant, important, and glorious joy in your joy in us, Jesus. We might outlive our joy in you, but we will never outlive your joy in us and love for us.
Jesus, whatever our scenario(s)—you will give us all the grace, kindness, repentance, and renewal we need. Thank you, and So Very Amen.