How Joy Becomes a Partner

“Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, but the presence of God.”
Sam Storms

We know the scriptures: “rejoice always.” We’ve heard that the “joy of the Lord is my strength.” So when our experience of Joy doesn’t match our knowledge of joy, shame can rise up. Comparison thinking shouts: “Every other Christian seems joyful (especially at this time of year) so I must need to try harder.”

You’ve become aware of a Grace Space around joy and God wants to give you a new vision to practice Joy the way He experiences joy.

He wants you to be free of believing that joy means giddiness or circumstantial happiness, or that joy will come when you study more about joy.

Joy Truth #1: Joy is an outcome of a good relationship in which we feel seen, heard and that someone is glad to be with us, right here, right now.

It can be relational with a person but is always available with God: “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence and living with you forever more.” (Psalm 16:11)

Joy comes when we feel safe and valued. Since people don’t always show up like that, many of us became wary and weary because we thought that shouldn’t matter and we should be joyful anyway.

Which leads to Joy truth #2: Joy is meant to be a partner and friend, not a replacement!

Joy wants to walk with us through the difficulties and disappointments of life, not ignore them. God desires us to become more aware of God’s joy to be with us in those places that transform our hearts where we’ve not been seen, heard or valued.

Joy and hope walk arm and arm. (Romans 15:13)

Joy and courage (Luke 2:10)

Joy and comfort (“Isaiah 61:3)

Joy and endurance. It was the future joy of relationship with us that carried Jesus through the cross. (Hebrews 12:2-3)

This is why we train you specifically in joy and returning to Joy in “Navigating Grace Spaces.” Together, we practice coming confidently to God’s throne of Grace, encouraged that it’s HIS joy is to be with us right here, right now in our time of need. God cares deeply that we experience His joy and our joy becomes full! (Hebrews 4:16 & John 15:11).

Joy on a Prison Yard

Earlene Leming

Author of The Higher Call

Although many Holidays have passed since my first Christmas ministering in prison, a treasured memory returns every year to my mind. It reminds me that God’s joy is always present, even in the most unlikely places.

I smile as I remember the old, upright piano in the prison chapel. The middle keys were broken and so I learned to avoid playing them when we sang with the women inmates in our tiny chapel. 

The Chaplain was delighted to have music of any kind and announced a “Musical Night of Christmas Carols.” I was hesitant. I was afraid it would not be a joyful experience for them - or for me. This was my first Christmas of living alone.

But God had a plan. When I arrived, women were waiting with a list of carols they had been given. After singing only two songs, I realized they were crying!?! 

I stopped and spoke softly, “If this music makes you feel sad, we can sing other songs tonight.” “Oh no! Please don’t stop singing,” one inmate cried out. “It’s just the first time we know what the words really mean. We know who Jesus is. He’s our Savior!  Now we have peace and joy EVERY day in here!”  

My heart was literally changed as we ended the evening singing “Joy to the World.” Joy had truly come for all of us that night and we experienced that God can truly be our joy in any situation!

Earlene Leming’s book The Higher Call shares more stories like this and is offered as our gift to you on our Grace Spaces website. It is also part of our “Navigating Grace Spaces” group coaching experience.

We have built upon feedback we received in our first year of Group Coaching and look forward to this next season of Navigating Grace Spaces with
a new ebook and expanded live activations!