One characteristic you want more than anything else on earth may well be personal happiness. You want life to move in the direction that fills you with joy. You may feel it is that illusive dream at the end of the rainbow that you never seem to be able to reach. When you have joy, you feel like life is more manageable and definitely more enjoyable.
You look around and see that most people you are in contact with on a daily basis seem to be missing joy in their lives. This observation does not change when you are around Christians, either. Martin Luther was a great Christian reformer. In fact, many of the biblical doctrines you enjoy are a direct result of Bible interpretation the Lord gave him; they were revolutionary in their time. Martin Luther in his later years was gloomy. One day his wife came into his study dressed in black. Martin asked, “Who’s dead?” She said, “God is.” Martin responded, “My soul, why should you talk like that?” She said, “Because of your gloom.” Ouch! You have to love Mrs. Luther. That was a brilliant performance to tell Luther to wake up and stop being so gloomy. Too many Christians live their lives and seldom experience, or at least show to others, the joy of the Lord.
Isaiah said, “The Spirit
of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news
to the afflicted” (61:1). The Lord is
letting you know, that when you are afflicted, He has some good news for you. “Therefore, they will possess a double
portion in their land, everlasting joy will be theirs” (61:7). God is telling you to be encouraged when
difficult times come; times when you feel discouraged and gloomy. To you these verses are written. The “everlasting joy” is a joy you will have
now and forever. The catch is to keep
your focus on the Lord God.
In days past there was a
worship hymn that stated, “fill my cup, let it overflow.” Yes, the joy you seek is just a prayer
away. Let your cup overflow!
