I have inner contentment and purpose in spite of my circumstances.
“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 15:11
“Running on fumes.” This is the terrible realization that your fuel gauge is sitting on empty while you frantically scan the horizon for the nearest gas station. You’ve got nothing left in the tank and you hope you can make it to a refill.
Sometimes, we can feel like we’re running on fumes in our life with God. Various things can drain our spiritual tank: trials, conflict, busyness, and sin. These things can deplete a person leaving them sad, hopeless, anxious, overwhelmed, and empty.
The opposite of this condition is joy. Joy is one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit—a virtue resulting from the Christian’s momentary connection to God (Galatians 5:22). As we abide in Jesus, he produces joy in us. Unlike happiness, which is tied to our circumstances and can ebb and flow, joy is tied to Christ and is the condition of our heart when we remember that we are loved and are held securely in God’s care. This is why a person can endure the most difficult circumstances and yet still possess radiant joy. They know who is in control.
Jesus prayed that his disciples’ joy tank would be full (John 15:11). God calls all of creation to sing with joy (Psalm 65:8). However, joy isn’t something that any person can manufacture. On cue, you can’t just “be joyful.” Joy is the byproduct of a person’s pursuit of God. It’s the glad reward of abiding.
The Bible highlights what we can do to discover greater joy. If your tank is empty, consider the following:
Behold the Beauty of God
The more you think about God—who he is and what he has done for you—the more your heart wells up with joy. In Psalm 4, the writer exclaims, “You have filled my heart with greater joy than when their grain and new wine abound” (v. 7). In other words, the harvest of my joy is overflowing. And the reason is because of the good things God has done; the light of his face has shined on his people (v. 6). Take a moment and think about God’s forgiveness, his provision, his creativity, his faithfulness, his power, his blessings, his protection, his wisdom, and more. Take the attention off yourself and your circumstances and put it on God, and watch your joy abound. John Piper writes in God Is the Gospel, “In wonderful moments of illumination, there is a wit-ness in our hearts: Soul-health and great joy come not from beholding a great self but a great splendor.” As we behold the beauty of God, it’s not difficult to “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).
Reflect on the Salvation of God
Frequently throughout the Bible, joy is linked to God’s redeeming work. Rescue is always a reason for rejoicing! Isaiah writes, “I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). So, take a moment to reflect. Your sin—past, present, and future—has been forgiven. Your guilt has been relieved. Your future is secure. You are saved and secure.
Steward the Life of God
A Golden Retriever is happiest when it’s in the woods chasing squirrels, because it’s doing what it was made to do. God’s people are most glad when they are living out the life God designed for us. And what is the “good work” (Ephesians 2:10) God made you to do? Serve others. Share the gospel of Jesus. Give generously. Worship freely. Forgive graciously. Take a radical step of faith. All these things are joy-producers because they reflect a life lived in obedience to Christ. One writer said, “Joy is the flag which is flown from the castle of the heart when the King is in residence there.”
PRAYER
Father, I beg you to increase my joy! My contentment is in you and not my circumstances. As I consider your beauty and the salvation you have given me in Christ, I invite joy to fill my heart. May your Holy Spirit empower me to live my new life in such a way that others are blessed, and I abound in spiritual joy. I am glad that you reside in the castle of my heart. Amen.