Joy to the world! The Lord is come

Francis Loo

What is the true cause for joy? It is a hard question. In order to answer it, it will be helpful too see how it looks like when someone feels absolutely no joy. Here comes a story about Joanie E. Yoder. I read this story in Our Daily Bread (September - October - November 2001 edition). And she began her story like this: 

My life was filled with anxiety and worry. I didn't seem to have the strength, physically or emotionally, to go on.... 

How vividly she has described the sort of feeling that is not uncommon to many of us in this world of stress-filled life! Virtually, she touched my heart for I was experiencing exactly the same feeling many years ago as I didn't seem to have the strength nor confidence, physically or emotionally, to carry on. No matter how petty a thing and what matters I used to do well would seem too big for me to manage--no confidence but fear! Spiritually down and depressed! 

Since I was baptized in the grace of God in October 1993, I do not seem to have ever experienced that sort of moody situation. This is because “ God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earths give way and the mountain fall into the heart of the sea. (Psalm 46:1, 2).NIV ” . 

Now I've learnt to put my trust in Jesus Christ; I've learnt to do the utmost to try to cultivate a good relationship with Him. I have learnt to be patient, waiting for God (the Holy Spirit) to guide my way. The Bible says: 

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this. (Psalm 37: 3 - 5) NIV.

Joanie had become agoraphobic, which is a dread of open space. She kept herself at home where she felt more safe and secure and away from others. She couldn't sleep comfortably; she couldn't eat properly; she had lost confidence in anything. Joanie was generally anxious about life, but she could not handle responsibility. She had developed bitterness habit though she was not aware of it. She felt her behavior was always justified. Worse still, Joanie thought she could manage to do anything in her own strength. Contrary to what Jesus told us, Joanie thought that she was self-sufficient. At last, she crumbled. (Adapted from the testimony of Yoder). 

Fortunately, by the grace of God, Joanie found God. She continued to write: "As God worked in my life and led me toward wholeness, He showed me four disciplines that continue to have a profound effect in my life: reading, praying, trusting, and obeying. 、

Reading the Bible--feasting on His truths. 

Praying--talking with Him not only in my own little time of prayer, but throughout the day and in every situation. 

Trusting--relying on God in the circumstances that are beyond my control.

Obeying--doing what I know God wants me to do.... ” (Yoder.) 

In fact, if we are to live alife filled with godly joy, we must believe and do what Jesus says. The Bible tells us, “ ... The Lord is with you when you are with him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake him, he will forsake you. (2 Chronicles 15:2) NIV.  

Jesus also tells us:

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit, apart from me you can do nothing. If any one does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. (John 15:5 – 7 ) NIV. 

Now, as the song goes, the answer is also here, "Joy to the world! The Lord is come."