Inside Out: A 40 Day Journey to Transforming Your HeartSample

Joyless Heart --> Joy-Filled Heart

No one is without moments of deep grief, pain, and loss. From King David to the Prophets, to Jesus Himself, grief is an emotion that will overwhelm all of us in certain seasons of our lives. The theme in the book Lamentations is grieving. Verse 5:15 says, “The joy of our hearts has ceased; our dancing has been turned to mourning.” The prophet Jeremiah was known as “The weeping prophet” and said in chapter 8:18, “My joy is gone; grief is upon me; my heart is sick within me.” Grief is painful, but does it need to take away our joy? 

Is it possible to experience joy while in mourning? Can we choose joy when walking through difficult trials? Isn’t the gut-wrenching emotion of grief the opposite of joy? Or, can they be felt in tandem with each other? All things are possible with God, even joy, after the most painful of circumstances. We just need to know how to find it. 

 James 1:2-4 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James is challenging us to see our trails as a means of becoming more like Jesus. Though painful, God will transform us into His likeness. When we focus on Jesus, He will perfect our faith in trials and bring us hope. He modeled this when He faced the cross. His hope was set on His resurrection and sitting at the right hand of God having power over sin, Satan, and death. Hebrews 12:2 says, “Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Our hope is that we are made righteous due to Jesus’ sacrifice. Becoming righteous is the only way we can be in the presence of God. Having this hope should bring us joy. Proverbs 10:28 says, “The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.”

Joy comes when we grasp the precious and costly gift of our salvation. Maybe, like King David, we need to pray Psalm 51:12. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.” No matter the circumstances around us, we can choose to rejoice in the Lord and actively take joy in our salvation. Habakkuk 3:17-18 says, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail, and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.”  

Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit living inside of us. Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”  When we lack joy, we can ask the Holy Spirit to empower us to have joy in all circumstances and remember that there is hope. Paul prayed this for the church in Rome in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

Jesus knew that there would be sorrows in life, but we can find joy in His presence. He said to His disciples in John 16:22, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” Jesus sent us the Holy Spirit so that we can continually fellowship with God on this side of heaven. It is the Spirit who guides us and fills us with joy. Psalm 16:11 says, “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 

We experience God’s presence by reading His Word. When we hungrily devour the Word, we experience His love, gain proper perspective, and have hope, which brings us joy deep in our hearts. Jeremiah 15:16 says, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.” Also, Psalm 119:111 says, “Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.”

When we spend time in the Word, we want to obey God by keeping His commandments. Our love for Him and His love for us brings us joy in knowing we are in good standing with Him. John 15:10-11 says, “If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love.  These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” Psalm 97:11 reiterates that there is joy in obedience. “Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart.” When we sin, we can rest assured that if we confess our sins and turn from them, God will forgive us, and joy will return. Psalm 30:4-5 says, “Sing praises to the LORD, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.”

Nothing can steal our joy when we are thankful for our salvation, when the Spirit empowers us, and when we are experiencing His presence by being obedient to His Word. Joy will come in the morning if our hearts are focused on Him. 

Take a Moment:

• How can you still focus on joy in times of trials or grief? 

• What distracts you from going to the Word and experiencing God’s presence in times of trials? 

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, thank You for the joy of my salvation. May I never take it for granted. Thank You for Your Word, where I can experience Your presence and learn how to obey You. Thank You for the Holy Spirit, who will give me joy when I ask. Amen.