Unspeakable

Joy, unspeakable joy

An overflowing well, no tongue can tell

Joy, unspeakable joy

Rises in my soul, never lets me go

He rules the world with truth and grace

And makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love

And wonders, wonders of His love

Song by: Chris Tomlin

An overflowing well. Let’s rest on that phrase for a minute. Joy being an overflowing well. Overflowing. Man oh man, when I look at my life it’s hard to say that I have had an overflowing well of Joy. Don’t get me wrong, I have experienced joy in the Lord, joy in moments, and even joy beyond measure, but to say it’s an overflowing well, I would have to say not so much. So how do we get to the the place where our joy in the Lord is an overflowing well and where we live in the wonders of His love?

This season, in many of our walks, we have had a hard time finding joy in our daily lives. If we are really honest even before this current pandemic. Turning on the news, looking at social media, and even just having conversations with people, joy seems to be almost obsolete. That's when, as Christians, we realize that many, ourselves included, truly don't know what Joy in The Lord really is. You see, many find joy in our kids happiness, buying the perfect outfit, having a better job, bigger house, and even in our spouse. Those can be joyous times, but they are very temporal. Joy obtained by these moments in our life are just that, moments. Joy obtained in The Lord, and what He has going on, that right there is that overflowing well we need to be striving for. The well that never runs dry. God has the ability to give us joy in all things if we live obedient to His plan and purposes, and according to His will, not our own. The current circumstances we are living in honestly should be our most joyous. Yes I said that. Well, actually I didn't, He did.

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds" James 1:2

"Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer" Romans 12:12

"Rejoice in The Lord always; again I will say, rejoice Philippians 4:4

"and the angel said to them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people." Luke 2:10

To be real, I had a hard time in finding joy in Him during some of those days. My worth had struggled, and then that led to lack of Joy which truly means a lack of contentment in my walk. My old nature was seeing, hearing, and then coveting what others had, were doing, or even what seemed like a "better" life. My mind was focused on the joy I "could" have if I was in their place. My heart and mind wasn't focused on Joy in Jesus. Funny thing is, that most of the things I "wanted" would only bring me joy for a hot second. God has shown me what true Joy is, yet in my selfish, old nature I was telling Him that it still wasn't good enough for me. What I was saying is, hey Jesus you should've taken a few more lashes across your face for me to be happy. That torture you took for me, ya not enough. That blood you poured out of every pore of your body, nope not good enough. Oh and the way you created me, the life you've given me, provided for, and blessed me with, yup still not good enough for me. The junk that's around me, that you gave me, that has no value, and that person over there, I want their life, oh and land is better than our house. Sounds terrible out loud right? Imagine how it feels. Imagine how He feels when we even think that, let alone act on it. When we have no joy, He feels that. That's exactly what we are telling Him. Instead we find temporary joy outside of what The Lord has for us, which ends up being something that causes us to be further away from the blessings He wants for us. His joy is unspeakable, an overflowing well that never runs dry. Our idea of joy in things outside of Him will always run dry. Joy we create is nothing like the joy we can feel abiding in Him.

"looking to Jesus , the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross,despising shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God" Hebrews 12:2

"These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full." John 15:11

Joy for me is knowing I am abiding in Christ. Joy for me is knowing He has my days numbered. Joy for me is knowing truth about myself through His word. Joy for me is watching my blessings grow in their knowledge of their Savior. Joy for me is knowing I am being perfected daily. Joy for me is loving my husband as Christ loves the church. Joy for me is knowing I am unfinished, instead of running away from my struggles, sin, and discontentment I will choose to seek the joy in it, which means going to Christ to transform my mind. There should be joy in our struggles, not guilt, shame, or fear. See, when I wasn't finding joy in my life, I forgot about grace and the peace that can come from forgiveness, which leads to joy. Instead of confessing my discontent and lack of joy I wallowed in guilt and shame for being so selfish. Until I realized how dried up my well was becoming did I seek true repentance. He continues to love me even in my selfishness. He forgives me with a heart full of joy. God calls us blessed who follow Him wholeheartedly. He filled my well right up with unspeakable joy that is back to overflowing.

Take a minute to please read Matthew 5:1-12. My bible commentary states this. Blessed means more than happiness. It implies the fortunate or enviable state of those who are in Gods kingdom. To Jesus, "blessed" means the experience of hope and joy, INDEPENDENT of outward circumstances. To find hope and joy, the deepest for of happiness, follow Jesus no matter the cost. This was everything outside of how I was viewing my walk. Since that I have confessed, repented, and have a freedom we so easily forget about. Why? Why do we so quickly forget what walking in freedom and true Joy feels like? We are selfish dead bones is why. We are more concerned about ourselves than anything. It says in Proverbs 17:22 " A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Allowing my spirit to be crushed was drying up my bones, and I could feel it. Joy was not overflowing in my walk.

In closing, every blog I write could be me confessing how much of a piece of work I am. We all are, that's the truth. We all should always be evaluating ourselves through the lens of Christ. If joy is lacking in your life, seek Him and ask why. If we are walking in accordance to His will, His nature, and His mind then we should be that overflowing well of Joy. Many, especially these days unfortunately, are struggling to find joy. Nothing is ever how we want, or desire, but instead we need to see its exactly how He wills it. We may not have the number of kids we want, the giant house that’s new, the hobby farm, or even prince charming, but we have a Savior who has blessed us beyond measure. We just have to be willing to have eyes and hearts to see it. Allow that to be enough. Look around you as you read this. Look at all He honestly blessed you with. Find joy in that. Find joy in the breath you are breathing. Find joy in the moment to moments in life. We are so unworthy of it all, but He calls us blessed. Today I chose Joy in Christ not just a joy in the world, but joy in the one who created the world. Joy in the way He has willed my life. Joy in my walk no matter what it looks like. Joy in being a piece of work, but I am His piece of work.

"May the God of hope fill you with all the joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

Prayer of the Day

Father God,

Wow God am I ever a piece of work! Lord I ask that you just always allow me to be the clay that you can mold. Don't allow me to become hard and dried up bones. Lord, thank you for your grace, your unending grace. I ask that you challenge us all to see the joy all around and in us. Show us where we are lacking Lord. It is never fun, but you call us to conform more and more into your image. Father forgive me for ever doubting your plan in my life. Forgive me for an ungrateful heart. You have allowed me to experience joy in so many ways I ask that you forgive me for taking that for granted. Lord challenge us to be an overflowing well of joy to others. Wherever you have any of us, the country, the church, our families, Lord challenge us to find joy in it. Challenge me to grow more. Challenge me to never find contentment in my walk which ultimately leads to discontentment in you. Lord I love how you love me. Let me express that through my walk and heart. Thank you for the moments in our lives that we don't find Joy. Challenge us Lord. Change us. We love you so much.

In your Holy and precious name I pray,

Amen

By His Grace

Lindsay Storm