a joy that never ceases.

"Did you think joy was created to live always under that threat? Always defenseless against those who would rather be miserable than have their self-will crossed? For it was real misery. I know that now. You made yourself really wretched. That you can still do. But you can no longer communicate your wretchedness. Everything becomes more and more itself. Here is joy that cannot be shaken. Our light can swallow up your darkness: but your darkness cannot now infect our light. No, no, no. Come to us. We will not go to you. Can you really have thought that love and joy would always be at the mercy of frowns and sighs? Did you not know they were stronger than their opposites?"
-C.S. Lewis  (The Great Divorce)

This quote is from a story about a man on a bus ride to hell and then to heaven, witnessing what choices people are making. I highly recommend this fairly quick, yet intense read. It shows a vibrant picture of heaven and hell where everything Lewis says is meaningful.

One thing The Great Divorce reminded me of is how the joy of the Lord is everlasting. It was kind of ironic that I finished the book this weekend because over this past week God has been continually reminding me of that. I had a week of midterms that I thought would never end, but they did. The excitement I had was so incredible at 5p.m. when my last project ended, and I felt free as a bird. I was extremely happy (This feeling was partly because I had a great amount of coffee in me and not much sleep). This was, however, a temporary feeling. Joy to me is different.

Joy is something that lasts. It is something that we can have even in our worst moments. Jesus Christ gives us a "joy that cannot be shaken," according to C.S. Lewis. I wholeheartedly agree with him. When we have Christ in us, we have a joy and Savior that conquers death and Satan. I definitely lose sight of this during hard times, but that is why we have the Holy Spirit in us, Scripture, and hopefully other Christ followers around us to encourage us. I am evening learning what it means to have joy while suffering. To even desire suffering for Christ (I would love to chat more about this with you because it is something God rocked my world with these past two weeks).

At the Let the Nations Be Glad seminar, John Piper talked about God wanting joyful worship. That is God's ultimate purpose in creation and redemption. This joy is found only in Christ. This joy is that we are to glorify God in everything. That is what God wants. He wants worship. He deserves it.

“For my name's sake I defer my anger, for the sake of my praise I restrain it for you, that I may not cut you off. Behold, I have refined you, but not as silver; I have tried you in the furnace of affliction. For my own sake, for my own sake, I do it, for how should my name be profaned? My glory I will not give to another." -Isaiah 48:9-1

If you are struggling to see the eternal joy you have in Christ or even are not sure if you have this joy...Talk to God about it. Then talk to someone else if you have questions or thoughts. God wants you to have His joy, if you are going to commit to following and worshiping Him.