welcomed with joy
Think of a time when you unexpectedly ran into a friend or loved one and a look of sheer “I’m SO happy to see you!” filled their eyes, created a huge smile and a tackling bear hug.
Maybe you were 5 years old, or 15, or 50. Whenever it was, really stop and remember that feeling.
At the heart of joy is the message that shouts, “I’m SO glad you’re here!”
I’m glad to see you on Christmas morning, wide-eyed, delighting in your presents.
I’m glad to see you coming off that airplane after being gone so long.
I’m glad to see you after a long day at work.
There’s also the gentle joy of being welcomed with a look of love and compassion in times of grief, confusion and uncertainty. It’s a joy that communicates without words: “I know this is hard and I am glad to be with you in it.” That quiet joy doesn’t try to fix anything. It just stays and strengthens us by its presence.
Every human longs to be welcomed, in good times and tough times. We feel safe when we know that wherever we’re at in life, we belong and others are glad to be with us.
The joy that Jesus offers us is the purest, most beautiful, most powerful joy there is: His joy. It was a gift He reveled in giving His friends in John 15:11. “I have told you these things that you can have the same joy I have so that your joy will be the fullest possible joy.” (EXB)
The joy of the Lord is indeed our strength because it is
so gracious to weakness.
When do you need strength? When you’re weak! His joy is tender and kind, as He remembers what it’s like to be human (Hebrews 4:15). This is the joy that says, “Rejoice always and again I say rejoice.” Why? Read on… “Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.” (Philippians 4:4-5 NKJV)
We’re not rejoicing because something hard is happening. It’s knowing the gentleness of joy, of the Lord sharing the same space with us and being glad to be there. And that’s the gentle joy we seek to give as freely as its been given to us.
This kind of joy, of always knowing that we are welcomed by God just as we are today, fully and completely, brings peace and hope.
It’s joy that carried Jesus through the horror of the cross because He knew it was the only way to the other side where a relationship with YOU was waiting! Hebrews 12:2 says that Jesus despised the pain of it all, but joy brought Him through the pain.
Joy is the fuel God provides for us in every life situation.
Of course, whenever there is something authentic, there are counterfeits. The world is full of counterfeit joy. Just like fake money, it can look very real but in the end, it has no value.
The world of advertising is based on a promise of joy if you buy their product or service.
Substances that numb our pain or unnecessary risks that give an adrenaline rush… whatever it is, if it substitute for the joy of the Lord, it’s less than He wants you to experience.
There are also “joy thieves.” Shame is one of those. It tries to rob us of joy, especially in our prodigal moments. Like the son in Luke 15, we believe our weakness makes us unworthy of a joy-filled welcome. How wonderful of Jesus to give us this true perspective on what Father God is really like! He is the God of Isaiah 30:18. He waits to be gracious. He honors our freewill to choose Him… or not. But when we do, we discover that He’s right there. He’s kept what we left behind and added His gifts of grace to help us in our need.
This kind of joy brings hope that gives us the courage to come boldly to God’s throne of grace. We know we didn’t earn it but we know God’s true nature that will be waiting, arms wide, with a welcoming smile that shouts:
“I’m SO glad you’re here!”
“Yup, it’s all here waiting: mercy and help in your time of need.” What’s a time of need? Every. Single. Day. Every hour of every day the joy of being welcomed by God is there for you to help you.
It’s why one of the values in our Grace Space community is: “You’re welcome here. No matter how this unfolds, we’re glad you’re here.” Everyone needs to feel that in a fellowship of friends.
~ Allison
