Surprised by Joy

Psalms 16:11

I love to read or hear about people’s conversion stories. I’m fascinated that God brings many people to himself from many different walks of life and in many different ways. What makes all of this in common is that all of these different paths lead to one path. And it’s that one path that leads to joy.

David said “you will show me the path of life.” God has clearly shown unto the world the way back to him. It was announced by the angels on the Christmas night, lived out by that baby who grew up to be the savior, and displayed before the world his love at the cross. By his triumph over the grave, Jesus clearly illustrates to the watching world that he is indeed “The way, the truth, and the life.” The expression of joy just leaps off of the page at you when you read the post resurrection stories and the reactions of those distraught disciples. Their sorrow had been turned into joy.

Jesus is not only the path of life, but he is also the way to joy. True joy is found in having a personal relationship with him. This relationship is one that brings pleasure from his abiding presence and wherever his presence is there is light, for he is the light of the world. So no matter how dark of a time we may be in, we can still experience the joy of knowing and being with him, because we are in him and he is in us.

One of my favorite conversion stories is told by C S Lewis. He was raised in a Christian home, but after going off to college and fighting in WW1, he had lost faith and become a devout atheist. After the war he made friends with some profession Christians and that began his journey back to God. At first he became an agnostic, but after investigating the truths of the Bible and following the evidence where it led, he confessed that he was the most reluctant covert to enter into the kingdom, as he came in kicking and screaming. But when he finally gave in, he confessed that he thought he was coming to a religion, but soon found out that he came to a person, the person of Jesus Christ! He was so overwhelmed by Joy that he wrote an autobiography of his life and journey and titled it Surprised By Joy.

The path of Jesus led him to a life of joy. Are you not feeling joyous today? See what paths you have been taking lately that has led to your sadness. Then pray and seek for God’s presence in your life today through Jesus who brought joy to the world.

Pastor Robby