Entering into the Gates of Joy

We all have our ups and downs – some good days and some bad. But every day is meant to be a day when the joy of the Lord flows in our hearts, because that’s what He’s promised.

After all, the Bible says:

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

(Romans 15:13)

And again…

“I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.” 

(John 15:11)

So why aren’t we filled with joy every day, all the time? Well, I believe it’s because most people are separated from God. So even if they’re trying to believe and follow Him, they’re doing it from a distance. 

And when that’s your perspective, you can look around at all the trouble in this world, at all the mistakes that so-called Christians make in their lives, and think, “Yeah, right. Look at all that suffering, look at the mess this planet is in. God? You have to be kidding. Joy? What a load of rubbish.”

The problem is, when you’re standing at a distance you’re not entering into His joy.

After all, looking at human suffering and reasoning that God doesn’t exist is like looking at people with long dirty hair and deciding that barbers don’t exist. They do! It’s just that people need to go to them for a haircut. So it is with God. The suffering in this world happens because people don’t go to Him and fill up with His joy. Instead, they’re filled with anger, hurt, selfishness, loneliness and all kinds of other things that, in turn, hurt others.

So if we want to enjoy our lives, we have to enter into joy. After all, that’s what “en-joy” means: to enter into joy. 

My friend, God wants to open the windows of heaven and pour His joy into your life and mine. So don’t hang around outside the house, wondering what it’s like inside but never crossing the threshold. Walk in through the door. 

Enter into His joy in order to en-joy.

I believe He’s brought you here to this point today because He wants to give you His joy, the joy of knowing Jesus Christ. Let’s walk into it together, today.

LIFE APPLICATION QUESTIONS 

• In your life, how much has the pursuit of happiness occupied your thoughts and your energies? How well has that worked for you?
• Read Jesus’ words again (John 15:11). What is He saying to you?
• Think specifically about the challenges that you face. What would it mean, what would it look like, to have your joy made complete, right now?
• Spend some time in prayer, asking God, in faith, for His joy.