Luke 2:10–11 (NKJV) says, “Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.’ ”
The Angel said, “Joy has come to the world.” The question is, do you know that you have it? Is it showing up in your life?
Maybe you’re thinking, “Well, you don’t know what I’ve been through.” You’re right, I don’t, but aren’t we all broken somewhere? Most of our dysfunction is usually rooted` somewhere in fear.
An article by Mel Wild states that, “When we don’t find joy and bliss from our relationships, we will look for it in counterfeits and live from fear rather than love. These counterfeits can show up in addictions and looking for love in all the wrong places, but a more subtle form can also show up in pouring ourselves into our work, obsessing over sports, politics, entertainment, even obsessing over good things like our children.”
“When we don’t have a healthy joy center our “reward-motivation” will manifest in unhealthy ways, through fear and manipulation, bringing our brokenness into all of our relationships—our marriage, parenting, family, and with coworkers. Oftentimes, this dysfunctional cycle gets repeated from generation to generation. My point in all of this is that I believe the answer to living free from bondage is not found by trying harder (left-brain activity), it’s found by growing our capacity to experience joy (right-brain).”
As Dr. Jim Wilder said about our brokenness: “Deeply wounded people only heal in community, and only when that community is based in love and joy. But, sadly, most have come from relationships built on fear.”(from “Developing Joy Strength“)
We need to be reshaped by love and joy instead of fear and control. This is how we heal in a community culture based in love. When we learn to live from joy, we can finally be our authentic selves at the deepest level of our being and, thereby, live free from all the counterfeits.
So, what does relational maturity look like?
Relational maturity looks like a soul at rest under all circumstances. We grow in maturity by growing our ability to experience joy. What this looks like is that I act like the same person, loving others and expressing the fruit of the Spirit, regardless of my circumstances, good or bad, and regardless of how others treat me. I begin to look and act like Jesus.
Your demeanor creates an environment of calm in the midst of the storm. Love and joy are connected. When we cannot find joy, we will look for the counterfeits in order to find pleasure and peace in some dysfunctional way.
The good news is that this part of our brain can be re-wired. And where our “joy center” resides is the only part of our brain that controls the more primitive emotions that are ready to pounce within us. We actually grow in our capacity to be at rest under all circumstances by activating joy whenever we go through difficulties in this life.
This is James’ point, in James 1:2 – 4 (TPT), which says, “My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing, but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.”
Joy starts and ends with love, and this other-centered love is, by definition, relational. This is how we live from joy. Remember, joy does not depend on our circumstances, good or bad. We can have “pure joy” in the midst of very difficult times.
The Bible mentions so many Biblical heroes who championed in the midst of their struggles, with His help. The love and mercy of God came to each of these heroes of the faith, in their darkest hours in order to restore them. God met them with unconditional love and grace.
The true Kingdom of God is made up of broken men and women, mended by the love and mercy of God. Consequently, the gospel remains as “good news,” and it is important to share it in a world where fears are masked by pride and pretense, and yet, at the deepest levels of our lives we simply long to know that we can be loved unconditionally. That’s good news!
- Pastor