Has Anyone Seen My Joy?نموونە

Joy and salvation

There is nowhere to run if we want to find joy. The bottom line is that joy is rooted in our salvation. When reading Luke 10:20, I can only imagine the excitement of the seventy-two Jesus sent out. They will perform miracles and cast out demons - the very same things they had seen Jesus do. All very noble and important things. Jesus, however, warns them that their joy should not be their achievements. Their names written in heaven were enough. Our names written in heaven should be enough as well.

We work, seek pleasure, set goals, and enjoy this life as we should. But all will pass. In the future, in eternity, these things will have no value. The great things we accomplish on this earthly life will remain here, but our future with God is everlasting - and so is our joy. Imagine all the politics, hardships, disasters, sorrows, and tears simply disappearing. That is what having our names written heaven means. A future of everlasting joy that is achieved through salvation in Jesus Christ only.

Many times, we set joy as the end wagon of our lives. We say to ourselves, “When I achieve this, I will have joy,” or we think, “ If I can have this one more thing, I’ll finally be able to rejoice.” However, joy is the engine car of our lives. We push through our days joyfully knowing we have a God who cares for us despite the situation we may be. When things go according to our plan, we rejoice. When everything seems to be crumbling down, we rejoice just the same because salvation is enough for us.

Are you tired of seeking joy in your life? Chasing after things and people expecting them to fulfill you? Is your joy tank low? I want to invite you to pray just as the psalmist does in Psalm 51: Lord, restore in me the joy of your salvation!