With Steve’s recent bicep and tendon tear and subsequent surgery, I had to be his chauffeur for a few weeks since he wasn’t supposed to be driving…and didn’t really feel up to it. Between times of the injury and the surgery, we got a different vehicle as our main transport. Well, the brakes are MUCH more sensitive than what I have been used to. You see where this is going?! Let me just say that driving Steve around is a ton of fun! —at least for me!!!
His comments about my driving—and braking—are hilarious and crack me up so hard that I laugh uncontrollably (even when I repeat the stories sometimes to tell others). This is the kind of laughter that makes you gasp for air, and it doesn’t sound pretty, but you don’t really care because it feels so good to laugh that hard. There was a time that I prayed for laughter in our lives. God has absolutely answered. In addition, with the last several difficult years, it has felt really good to laugh extra lately.
How long has it been since you laughed like that? Sometimes, life is so crammed full that we may not even realize that the laughter, the fun, and perhaps the joy is missing…or at least a little lacking.
Check out Proverbs 17:22 in a few different versions…
“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.”
Proverbs 17:22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.17.22.NLT
“A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/pro.17.22.ESV
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: But a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
Proverbs 17:22 KJV
https://bible.com/bible/1/pro.17.22.KJV
If we haven’t laughed or felt joy in a while, we maybe should take inventory…because—you know—joy IS a fruit of The Spirit. That means that when we are full of His spirit, there will be joy…and love, and peace, and patience, and kindness, and goodness, and faithfulness, and gentleness, and self-control…
“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
Galatians 5:22-23 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/gal.5.22-23.NLT
So when any of these are lacking, it is a good time to talk it over with The Father and let Him do His work in us. Focusing on joy specifically, I think it’s worth fighting for. In order to fight for something, we must first recognize that there is an issue that is worth the fight. It could be a season, but if it’s a constant, it’s time to bring out the gloves!
“a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance;”
Ecclesiastes 3:4 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/ecc.3.4.ESV
We live in a less-than-perfect world, and there are, no doubt, difficult seasons. I don’t invite those times, nor do I have desire to dwell there. But—we have a perfect Redeemer who sees our sorrow and can bring comfort when we turn to Him with our heartaches.
“…Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.”
Psalms 30:5 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.30.5.NLT
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.”
Psalms 34:18 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/psa.34.18.NLT
“Tidings of comfort…”
“All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort.”
2 Corinthians 1:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.1.3.NLT
As I have mentioned here several times, the last few years have been challenging to say the least, but God has brought comfort. I am thankful for and most definitely appreciate those He used to aid in consoling for sure, but He has been the main source of my comfort. He is there when no on else can be. I’m not sure how people cope in times of trouble and heartache without The Comforter to lean on.
In conclusion, allow time to grieve life’s changes and hard times, but don’t forget that “joy comes with the morning.” …that there IS a time to laugh and a time to dance. Don’t find your comfort in abiding (remaining or continuing) in the grief and heartache. Find your comfort in the one who restores…who restores the laughter and the dancing—the joy.
And if you or I find ourselves caught up in the haste and hurry of the Christmas season to a degree that hinders our joy…or perhaps in every season, may we realize that there is a need for fun and laughter. It’s not all about arriving, it’s also about the journey. And I don’t think that God intended for us to be joy-less in the journey…do you?…
“but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people.”
Luke 2:10 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.2.10.NLT
A gift from Jesus…
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!”
John 15:11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.15.11.NLT
Simply Celebrate With Jackie 