True Christian joy is elusive for many biblical believers. This is a very sad reality, not only because spiritual joy trumps the world’s idea of “positive thinking” by far, but because joy is also the “re-birthright” of every authentic Christian. If this is true, why are more Christ-followers not joyful more of the time? We have already stated that joy, unlike happiness, transcends our circumstances. If this is true, why are we not automatically joyful all the time?
One reason is because in this fallen world we still see, as the Apostle Paul wrote, “through a glass darkly.” By this he meant that being in any heavenly state perfectly and “24/7” is not possible in lives still being lived on this side of Heaven. Joy can become the ruling state of our hearts only to the degree that God has complete control of those hearts, and this tends to happen in the form of a growth process in this life (and will not be fully complete until we stand before God someday).
That said, there are two primary ways we can potentially increase our experience of joy. One is by praying for it and the other is through Holy-Spirit empowered reading about this subject in the numerous places the word “joy” appears in the New Testament.
It is possible that many do not often enter the joy of the Lord because they seldom, or never, ask for Him to fill them with it. This might sound overly simplistic, but we are told in Scripture that “we have not because we ask not.” There are many good things in life upon which we miss out simply because we are not diligent in petitionary prayer (prayer that asks for specific blessings God may want to bestow upon us). As important as the positive experience of joy is, many Christians have likely never asked God to enable it within them. Purposeful and persistent prayer to be granted greater joy in this life is essential to experiencing it. If you are wondering why you do not have more of it perhaps it would be a “gamechanger” to simply ask directly and often, in prayer, for your Lord to give it to you.
Does reading the word of God also play a role in enabling a greater experience of the enduring “positivity” of divinely given joy? It certainly does and we will address this important catalyst in our fifth and final essay on this subject next week.
“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” -Matthew 7:7 (NIV)
