The joy of the Lord. We read about it in John 15:11, when Jesus says “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” It even affected John the Baptist before he was born, as described by his mother, Elizabeth, when she spoke to Mary in Luke 1:44 “For behold, when the sound of your greeting came to my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.” Nehemiah describes the joy of the Lord as our strength in Nehemiah 8:10. Perhaps Peter describes it best in 1 Peter 1:8 “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.”
Christians can have the joy of the Lord when they worship, when they study the Word, when they fellowship with one another, and when they marvel at His beautiful creation. But they can also have that same joy when they are suffering. When they are grieving the loss of a loved one, when they are facing financial hardship, and when they are fighting cancer in the chemo chair.
I had the joy of the Lord from the very beginning of my cancer journey. I felt His presence and knew He was walking alongside my husband and me. Even when the cancer metastasized and I had to go through radiation and more chemo, despite the nausea and fatigue and other side effects that will remain unnamed (so many), and the constant trips to the cancer and radiology clinics, I continued to feel His joy within me.
What is the joy of the Lord? It doesn’t mean you’re in a perpetual good mood, that you’re smiling and happy 24/7, or that nothing bothers you in your day-to-day life. The joy of the Lord is having that peace that surpasses understanding as you abide in Christ and are filled with the Holy Spirit. We know that, despite our circumstances, the Lord is with us. Jesus sent the Holy Spirit to indwell His followers when He ascended to Heaven after His resurrection. Our Lord and Savior is alive and interceding for us, even as we struggle here in this life.
I’m going to be real here. I’ve been struggling ever since this cancer returned for a third time. Something changed in my disposition. I felt like this may be my last battle. My oncologist was optimistic and had a new treatment plan prepared, but he did say we were running out of options should this treatment not work. The chemo pills were doing their best to decimate my bone marrow factory in creating and supplying white blood cells and neutrophils for the battle. I was riding a roller coaster from blood test to blood test, not knowing if I would be able to continue with the treatments. I had to start getting bone marrow stimulation shots to assist my tired, worn-out body. I lost more and more of my hair, something that hadn’t really affected me for the first three years of this journey. My weight also plummeted, as I lost my appetite and ate less and less. I felt weary, weathered, and weak. And then I realized – I had lost the joy of the Lord. I didn’t feel that living hope within me anymore. I still knew that I would be going to Heaven and meeting Jesus face-to-face, which gave me comfort, but I didn’t have that inner joy that gave me such peace and gladness of heart in the past. Saying goodbye to this diseased, broken-down body and joining Jesus in Heaven was sounding very appealing.
But then I thought of all the Lord had given me. He gave me my beautiful brothers and sisters in Christ, who pray for us continually and help any way they can. He gave me a book to write, and provided a way to get it published and distributed. He gave me an amazing, loving, faithful, hilarious husband who is always there when I need him (which is a lot, lately). He lavished us with people who love us, and we have never been so blessed.
Have you lost the joy of the Lord? Are you struggling to regain that inexpressible joy? Though your future may look bleak, and you’re struggling in the battle, you can reclaim His Joy in your life.
I decided to follow Paul’s advice in Philippians 4:4-9 (NKJV)
“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, think about these things. As for the things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”
Did you catch that? The Lord is near! He’s right there with you, in the fire and in the storm. He is with us always.
The joy of the Lord. It can be yours, no matter your circumstances, fiery trials, or dark valleys. Don’t lose it.