Join in the Joy
Through the years, I have frequently preached about joy. It is more than an emotion (although it includes emotion); rather, it is a settled attitude, a stable and sturdy approach to life that focuses us on the things that matter now and forever. Joy is much greater and much more powerful than happiness, which is event or circumstance driven. There is nothing wrong with happiness. It is certainly better than unhappiness. Also, we have different personalities. For example, my wife is happy-go-lucky. Of course, she has every reason to be, being married to me. However, not everyone can be married to me. We need something more substantial than happiness; that something is joy. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
As we have seen in the last two weeks, God the Holy Spirit gives us the joy of salvation and continues to strengthen that joy. Ever and always, the Spirit speaks out of His own joy. Romans 8:26 does not include any reference to joy, but we do find specific information about the Holy Spirit. Joy appears to be absent, for our “infirmities,” our afflictions, our heavinesses are sometimes so strong that we become spiritually mute. We may reach a point where words of prayer slip away from us and vanish. Have you ever started to pray and then found yourself not praying but instead worrying about your problems? Prayer is not always easy, but it is always necessary. Thus, when we are silenced by sorrows and sad surprises, the Holy Spirit speaks for us. Because He is the Spirit of joy, we can be certain that His words are strong and settled, that His “groanings” or sighs are backed by His character of joy. This joy is so powerful that it will not let us go, even when we cannot take hold of God in prayer.