Finding Joy

     Recently my husband and I purchased a home after renting for over five years.  We have just been in awe of how God has worked everything out. In a time where it is difficult for many people to get a home loan we know that He was moving in each step of the process.   As I was working in the front of the house planting flowers that my Dad had given me, I couldn't help but think of a time when I would have loathed doing that same exact thing!   I'll never forget at about age 12 having the worst possible chore of pulling weeds in our garden on the farm during the wonderfully HOT summers in Illinois.  Some days I would have preferred mucking horse stalls! I absolutely did not see the beauty in what I was doing, nor did I find any joy in the chore.  Fast-forward about 15 years and I'm now enJOYing that moment tremendously.  Feeling so blessed and thankful that I can have a little flower garden of my own!  

     As we go through life are we preparing ourselves for new seasons? Are we putting mulch down in the garden in order to prevent the weeds from coming up and pulling those that do try to rise? Are we "counting it all joy when we fall into trials, knowing that the testing of our faith produces patience?"(James 1:2-3)  Jesus clearly wants us to be full of Joy.  

     In the Bible joy is found in at least three different places: In His word, In His sufferings, and in His presence!

     In John 15 Jesus tells us about the Vine and the Branches.  He is the Vine and the Father is the Gardener and we are the Branches.  The Gardener cuts seasonally cuts off the branches that produce no fruit and he prunes back the branches that do produce fruit so that they can produce even more!  We the branches must remain with the vine because we can do nothing without Him.  In verse 7 he says, “7 If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.”   If Jesus is the Word that means he wants us to remain in the Word.  We need to study His Word so that it is fresh inside of us especially for those times that may not seem so Joyful.

Later in verse 11 he says, 11 I have told you this so that MY JOY may be in you and that your JOY may be complete.  Not only does He want us to have Joy but He wants us to have HIS joy!

  Jesus knew he was going to go through and be tested by awful things but never quit and did everything with Joy.  He was perfect, lacking nothing.  

     1 Peter 4:13  but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. 

     Hebrews 12:2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

     Nothing is greater than being in His presence!  It is a place of peace, healing, and Joy.  His presence is all we need for it is in Him that we live and move and have our being! (Acts 17:28)  

Psalm 16:11 

You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 21:6 

Surely you have granted him unending blessings

and made him glad with the joy of your presence.

     My desire is to be full of His Joy!  Pressing on through those less desirable tasks or events in life with Joy knowing that there is a great and beautiful reward, but doing so with Jesus' perspective.  And so now I will head out to my little garden and pull those little weeds with great Joy for I know that my work will not be in vain and that those blessing are not just for my joy but for others as well.

~Calla Cuff