Joy

Joy: a source of keen delight; gladness; mirth (Dictionary.com and Strong’s Concordance)

When I think joy, I think yellow. It’s cheery and bright. It reminds me of the warmth of the sun and the freshness of a new day. However, joy is more than just a bounce in our step on a summer day. Joy is in the sureness of the Lord even during darkness and trouble. Thus, the lemon.

When life gives us lemons, we turn to the joy of the Lord for our strength (Neh 8:10). People may see the bitterness of our circumstances, but through the fruit of the Spirit, our lives can present to them the sweetness of joy. The Lord is in the lemonade-makin’ business.

"Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 3:12-13)

“In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.” (1 Peter 1:6)

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” (James 1:2-4)

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame.” (Rom 5:3-5)

For the world is full of lemons and the cries of those who taste its bitterness are many. The joy of the Lord is the sweetness that all our hearts long for, and we, as His children, get to display that sweetness to a bitter world.

So let us take joy in the Lord! Let our emotions be focused on His glory. Let it be strength to our bones and song to our lives. Let it fill out spirit and orient our soul. And when we inevitably forget that He is delightful, let us REjoice. Again and again.

“My soul will be satisfied as with fat and rich food, and my mouth will praise you with joyful lips, when I remember you upon my bed and meditate on you through the watches of the night, for you have been my help, and in the shadow of your wings I will sing for joy.” (Psalm 63:5-7)

With much joy,

Hannah

Oh, and the playlist (feat a lot of songs named Joy and some pure happy beats):