Finding Joy Where You Are

2 P&P Blog Entry for 3-9 August 2024

We found this female red-winged Blackbird among lily pads when we were on a bike ride. We stopped at a beautiful lake to take a short break to enjoy the view and to rest for a few minutes. She flitted from leaf to leaf. From these flowers, she found some kind of seed upon which to feed.  

She hopped, flew, and supped from many of these blossoms. She graced the green leaves like they were her bridge over the water. And while no other birds were around, if a feathered creature could demonstrate a spirit of joy—she did!

As usual, watching her posed questions from the Spirit: 1) Are we thankful for God’s provision on a daily basis? 2) Do we take pleasure in our surroundings and the ways that He’s blessing us? and 3) Would we be described by those around us as being joyful—no matter what our current circumstances look like? 

Let’s read a few Scriptures about joy together to see what we can glean. 

Psalm 16:11: “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,

with eternal pleasures at your right hand (NIV).”

1 Peter 1:8-9 “You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him, and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy. The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls (NLT).”

Psalm 119:111: “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart (NIV).”

Psalm 94:19 "When I am filled with cares, Your comfort brings me joy (HCSB)."

Did you notice that in each of these, joy comes from the Lord? While there are certainly things that we can do to help our outlook—like being grateful for even the smallest details of God’s faithfulness and praising His name—for something every day, this sense of completeness or wholeness comes through His Spirit’s filling us. It comes more from being fed by His Word and remaining in His close company than from anything external that is going on around us. 

And while there will be seasons where joy comes easily because there are things to be celebrated in life—the Lord wants us to be so dependent upon Him—that we can maintain this quality daily. 

Psalm 32:7, Romans 15:13, & John 16:24 give us some answers as to how this can be so. Let’s look at each of these respectively.

“You are my hiding place. You protect me from trouble. You surround me with joyous songs of salvation. Selah (NOG)."

“May God, the source of hope, fill you with all joy and peace by means of your faith in him, so that your hope will continue to grow by the power of the Holy Spirit (GNT).”

“Until this moment, you have not sought after anything in My name. Ask and you will receive so that you will be filled with joy (VOICE).”

Again, did you see? We are encouraged to have/develop joy by coming/running/entering into a relationship with Jesus. 

Dear Lord, I love the lessons that You’re constantly teaching us through Your wondrous creations. By simply pausing in this beautiful lakeside spot, we watched a bird dance and be fed by Your hand. Her joy was palpable. Even in solitude, it was like she communed with her Creator. Oh, how this image blessed my heart. I want to be like her, even when life is not idyllic. Let Your Word be my encouragement, my sustenance. For You are the desire of my heart, and joy is the quality that I want to display most so that my life draws others to You. Amen. 

If you want to find “joy where you are,” begin by seeking Jesus! You just might find yourself hopping, flying, and supping to such a degree that others want what you have! After all, joy is a quality that you can’t keep to yourself—its very nature is meant to be shared! 

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