What do you do when you are troubled by circumstances; when the path suddenly changes; when life is not
a steady state and change jumps out of the bushes and hits you over the head;
when you are caught off guard and your life is forced to take a turn and
direction that throws you out of your comfort zone; when what you thought was
your spiritual “calling” takes a turn away from your plan; when you land you on
a desert island of confusion and disappointment; when your joy is snuffed out
and despair looms on the horizon?
It is a dangerous, shaky
existence when your joy is based on remaining in certain circumstances; when
your position in life seems settled; when the company you keep or position you
hold is the source of your happiness, emotional well-being and joy. Circumstances
change. The only thing that changes not
is the high probability that life will change.
Inevitably, change will occasion a sense of loss. What do you do when
you are overwhelmed by changing circumstances and feel the sting of loss: loss
of a loved one, loss of capacity, loss of home or health, loss of position or
job? How do you grieve over your loss, but still maintain your joy?
The chances are great that
you can’t do it on your own. If your joy
is found in the circumstances you were settled into and now you are facing
change, if the ground has shifted and the wind that was in your sails now blows in another direction, you need help. When
the disciples of Jesus were together in a boat on the Sea of Galilee and a
great storm blew up, they were afraid.
They thought they might drown.
Jesus stood up and calmed the sea.
Their joy and peace were restored.
When Christ was crucified and the disciples were gathered in one place
fearful of further violence and aggression, the risen Christ appeared and said
to them. “Peace be with you.” Their joy
and peace were restored.
Our joy cannot be grounded
in our circumstances. Circumstances
change. Joy must be found in Jesus who
said “My joy may be in you, and your joy may be full.” This is Christ’s desire regardless of our
changing circumstances. The joy of
Christ is a full joy. It is full
of hope and promise, because God is love and He is faithful. It is therefore a joy of fulfillment now and
yet to come. It is the joy of being in
Christ and Christ in us. In the words of
E. Stanley Jones, “It is the joy that is joyous in certain circumstances, or
without them; a joy that sings when it gets and when it doesn’t get.”
This is the time of year when
people hear news of change. Students
hear about their acceptance or not into the university of their choice. Faculty hear news of tenure and promotion or not. Pastors hear news of new appointments to new
venues of ministry. It is in such times
as these that we must guard against the Great Thief who delights in stealing our
joy should our hopes go unfulfilled or circumstances of change seem overwhelming. We remember that all circumstances are
temporary and God is faithful.
There’s joy in following Jesus all the
way,
There’s joy in following Jesus every
day;
His love is like the rainbow when
earthly skies are grey;
There’s joy in Following Jesus all the
way.
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