Work on Joy?

Psalm 126

1When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.

2Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy;

then they said among the nations,

"The LORD has done great things for them."

3The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad.

4Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb!

5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

6He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy,

bringing his sheaves with him.

I never thought of joy as something to "work on." I always thought it was an after result of something that happened. We moderns look for joy as a result of entertainment. We sign up for a cruise, or go see a movie, buy the latest toy to pacify either the bordom, or to keep us in a state of perpetual denial to the realities of life. We look for joy as a result of entertainment. Joy is a by-product of faith, not of entertainment. We get things all mixed up.

The last frew weeks have been a very down time for me. Now that I think of it, my faith has been very low, weak, and enemic. Sort of like my 86 year old mother, who has been in the hospital. She collapsed and the doctors could not find out what was wrong with her. She was enemic, not sleeping, and worried about circumstances in other's lives whom she loves. I have also been in the same condition spiritually. Enemic, not resting in the arms of my Father, and railing against the hard things in life.

When I read in Psalm 126 that joy comes with faith, I then can understand why my joy is close to non-existent. The joy has not been there, because faith has not been there. "Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy." In order to have real joy, shouts of joy, you have to sow in tears. To sow in tears is to do hard work, even in the midst of crying. Most of the time, we do not do that. Instead of facing the giants, the obstacles, the hurts, the pain we buy a new car! We placate ourselves with food, drink, or anything that will not allow us to painfully deal with the issues or circumstances. These precious saints were in exile, in prison, in another country not their own. Oh, but when they were released, what joy!! They had fought the good fight, kept right on sowing even when it hurt. Kept the faith, kept believing. Then God brought them into a time of joy. Pure joy, where you know that it is from Him.

I am going to work on joy, work on faith. Knowing that faith produces Joy!!!