Considering Pure Joy
Photo by Taylor Heery on Unsplash
Let’s jump right in. What’s your level of joy? Are you there? Are you experiencing it? Is it an illusive concept? Are you able to croon Anita Baker and shout to the rafters that “You (whomever or whatever) bring me joy!?” If you are at a loss for words or agreement, I suspect you’re not alone. Even as two or three of us are gathered, joy in the sense that I’ve come to appreciate feels a bit fleeting. Then I fell upon James 1:2-4 which reads, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Woo-sah. So, perhaps I am failing to consider the joy set before me as I face what feels like as an abundance of trials. And not just ordinary joy. The writer was deliberate and intentional to state, “pure joy.” Who knew that Anita Baker and the Mighty One were on the same songsheet….”You bring me joy, when I’m down. Oh so much joy; when I loose my way, your love comes smiling on me.” Because truth be told, as challenging as life has been, those things that we may be experiencing in our person or witnessing around us, have brought us to the conclusion that there is no one that comforts in the way that the Creator does; and I have to believe, we have to believe, that there is purpose associated with everything that God allows…and it is critically important to embrace the trial in order to embody the testimony that will follow. But seriously, consider it pure joy?…..Am I the only one side-eyeing, “The Holy One?”
God is not a man that He should lie, nor the Son of Man that he should repent. God does not make mistakes that require a “do-over.” Just something to keep in mind in case you are like me in thinking and wondering, “how long, why, are you sure” to circumstances that seemingly present out of thin air; or the slow burning challenges that simmer from season to season, seemingly without resolve. While I get stuck in a loop on hesitantly embracing the joy associated with difficulty, I should instead turn my attention to the perseverance which shall result in maturity and completion, not lacking anything! That’s the powerball! I desire to be in a position to lack nothing - and I am not being hyper focused on financial considerations. I serve a God who is full of abundance and as His child, that is my inheritance. Therefore be it resolved, that I may have to “go through” a bit and I must be mindful of my disposition, as I endure…my positionality must reflect being steeped in joy as I learn that which is necessary in the season as a means to graduate to the next step of the journey.
Over the weekend, I shared space with students beginning their doctoral journey. They were riddled with excitement, enthusiasm, a bit of anxiety, but overall settled with their decision. It wasn’t the time for me to share my horror story, but instead tangible evidence that completion and lacking for nothing is possible and probable. Over twenty years ago, God settled my doctoral journey and allowed me to persevere with a high hand. How could I ever forget? More importantly, it didn’t feel like joy, but as I look back, I experience pure joy each time someone shares their desire to pursue a doctorate degree. Nothing is wasted! Every ounce of encouragement, support, accountability and affirmation that I can pour I will, while giving the Glory to God! So, I’m choosing to accept that God loves me so much that what He allows, I will embrace, with full recollection that what presents today was birthed as a result of the maturity I developed in previous iterations of the journey.
So perhaps you are still “considering” the “consider it pure joy.” That’s fair. It’s unfortunately not a collective decision, but we can operate as a collective, providing support to one another and infusing joy to the best of our ability as the tribulations occur. Returning to Ms. Anita, when we loose our way, His love (God’s love) comes smiling on me.