Joy Divine

I’ve been sitting here staring at this blank screen for several minutes, struggling to form the words that are bouncing around in my heart this morning. Whenever I start to write, it just doesn’t feel right. What I want to share is hard and involves so many emotions that I’m not at all surprised the words just keep swirling around without becoming an idea or forming a sentence worthy of staying on the page. I decided to just spit some things out and pray that God will bring the story into shape. So that’s where I’ll start – with a story.

Several years ago we were searching for a church home and visited a small church that a cousin thought might be a good one. Our first visit was interesting, more a “what are you doing here?” than a “we’re so glad to worship Christ together with you today.” As we were leaving, the pastor shook our hands and grilled us on how we learned about them. Using the term “grilled” may seem harsh, but the questions, while formed using nice words, were presented in a tone that was not. We discussed this together and decided maybe it was us and not him, and that we’d go again.

We attended for several more months, and tried to become involved and get to know the other folks who attended there, but from most, the conversations were guarded and cold. There was one young man who was always friendly, full of laughter and joy. He and his beautiful family invited us for dinner at their home once, and shared conversations at church events, one of the few families that made us feel welcome.

We didn’t stay there very long because the teaching, like the people, was cold and didn’t agree with what we knew of Scripture. It lacked any reference to the joy the apostle Paul describes in his prayer in Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” and was instead focused on sin and fear, teaching that salvation should be doubted and it was everyone’s job to judge everyone else. It was a dark place, that did dark things to our souls in that very short time. Several other families left after we did, and we learned that many others left before us; we did not keep contact with anyone there in the years that followed.

We learned just a few days ago that the same hopelessness we felt has resulted in the untimely passing of the young man I mentioned earlier. Darkness takes many forms, but when it comes in the form of a pastor and permeates an entire church, it somehow seems so much darker. The Bible warns countless times about the dangers of false teachers, calling them savage wolves that will not spare the flock. (Acts 20:29)

Loving and serving Christ is not easy, but it is also not hopeless. Yes, we must make every effort to turn from our sins and live as He commands, but the stronger your relationship with God grows, the more peaceful and content your heart feels, and the easier it becomes to stand firm for Him. The love and joy that replaces the fear and longing is so very beautiful it is overwhelming!

Jesus taught that through His love, we would be filled with His joy, and as such our joy would be complete. (John 15:9-11) Our joy would be complete. Joy! Our joy would be complete through Him. Jesus said he would send the Spirit to dwell within us after he ascended to heaven, and that indwelling of the Spirit produces fruit– and “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” (Galatians 5:22)

As I was praying for this family and their loss this morning, the verses of the old hymn “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” flowed out of my heart.

What a fellowship, what a joy divine,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
what a blessedness, what a peace is mine,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

Refrain:
Leaning, leaning,
safe and secure from all alarms;
leaning, leaning,
leaning on the everlasting arms.

O how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way,
leaning on the everlasting arms;
O how bright the path grows from day to day,
leaning on the everlasting arms. [Refrain]

What have I to dread, what have I to fear,
leaning on the everlasting arms?
I have blessed peace with my Lord so near,
leaning on the everlasting arms. [Refrain]

There is joy in knowing and serving Christ. It fills every ounce of your being. It is a gift from Jesus and is worthy of cherishing. I pray that you can know this joy, that you will be filled with a love so wonderful that it changes your very existence.

Heavenly Father, fill us with all joy and peace as we trust in You, so that our hearts overflow with the hope of the Holy Spirit. Let us sing for joy as you spread your protection over us. Lead us along the paths of your righteousness and take away any doubt and fear we may have as we live our lives for you. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen