Choose Joy

 

Scripture

Psalm 98:1-5

¹ O sing to the Lord a new song,
    for he has done marvelous things.
His right hand and his holy arm
    have gotten him victory.
² The Lord has made known his victory;
    he has revealed his vindication in the sight of the nations.
³ He has remembered his steadfast love and faithfulness
    to the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen
    the victory of our God.

⁴ Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth;
    break forth into joyous song and sing praises.
⁵ Sing praises to the Lord with the lyre,
    with the lyre and the sound of melody.
⁶ With trumpets and the sound of the horn
    make a joyful noise before the King, the Lord.

⁷ Let the sea roar and all that fills it,
    the world and those who live in it.
⁸ Let the floods clap their hands;
    let the hills sing together for joy
⁹ at the presence of the Lord, for he is coming
    to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness
    and the peoples with equity.  (NRSVUE)

Devotion

Last week, a relative said that I always sound happy when I answer the phone.  This was statement not meant as a compliment.  It was an accusation.  For this particular relative joy is a sign that a person is either incredibly naive about the way the world works or incredibly insulated from real world problems. And because I always sound joyful, I must be both.

I admit that it can be hard to be joyful when life gives us so many reasons to feel otherwise.  If anyone knew how hard life could be and how many reasons there were to not be joyful it was the Ancient Israelites.  They survived plagues, famines, injustice, inter-tribal violence, warfare, slavery, and even exile.  Why is it, then, that the Psalms continually call these very people to sing, clap, and shout for joy?   

The Psalmists were not naive about Israel's challenges or even insulated from hardships. At the same time, they can see that God has stayed with them during their times of trial and helped them gain victory over the worst of adversities in the past.  They realize that God is continuing to do marvelous things in their present.  And they trust that God will do even greater things in the future.  It is this recognition of all that God has done, is doing, and will continue to do in their lives that fills the Psalmists with a deep and abiding joy.  After all, why would you choose to be anything but joyful when you realize you are int he presence of your faithful savior?

 

What I wish my relative understood is that joy is a choice.  I can choose to despair over the worlds ills, or I can choose to trust that God remains faithful and look for signs of the marvelous work God is doing among us.  And when I do that, there is usually enough evidence of my savior's presence to fill me with that joy that comes with knowing God is with us.  That God has got this.  That God will continue to work around, among, within, and through us to overcome even the worst catastrophes life can throw at us.  And if I can hold onto that deep, abiding joy in the midst of sorrow, then I can help others comes to realize that they are not alone.  

Are there times when we need to feel sorrow, fear, or anger?  Sure.  Are there things that fill us with despair?  Of course!  But I pray that even when things seem bleak, we can protect a tiny flame of joy in the knowledge that God is with us.  Let us nurture that flame until it grows to fill the whole world.  And when given the choice of how to respond to whatever needs or hardships arise, let us choose Joy.

Prayer

Gracious God, help me to notice the marvelous things you are doing and sing your praises for them.  Amen.