Are you joyful? Do you think that it’s possible to be really
joyful, especially in the world we live in today, with all its sadness
and grief, its violence and unfairness? I ask myself that question and
I must say that I am joyful, most of the time. And so I should be. I
have a loving family, a very satisfying occupation in the Lord’s
service; I live in a comfortable home in a delightful part of the world;
I have loving friends and I enjoy good health.

Yet I know people who have none of these things and are still happy
– there is something about them that is quite irresistible. And I know
others who have everything going for them, materially speaking, yet they
are absolute miseries. So happiness doesn’t depend on material things
or on circumstances, or even on other people, it’s something more than
that.

According to surveys, doctor’s casebooks and what you hear, many
people go through life feeling tired and run down. Today’s person gets
older before they should. Because of stress they don’t get adequate
sleep, they wake to an alarm clock, rush to work, junk food for lunch,
and so on. Waking to an alarm and rushing to work we might have to live
with, but not all of it. Tiredness and unhappiness walk hand-in-hand,
whereas vitality and joy have a way of skipping along together. If you
really want to study human nature then stand back and look at the faces
of people waiting for trains, buses, or for ‘planes at airports, or
forcing down take-aways in a hurried lunch break. There you can see
that what they believe in manifests itself in how they feel about life
and their general demeanour.

So what exactly IS joy? Well of course it is many things, but one
of the most important is the secret of contentment. Our consumer
society convinces us that our lives consist of the things we possess and
that joy can be purchased at a car showroom or department store. What
wisdom lies in the adage that a person is happy in proportion with the
things they can do without. This elusive experience of deep contentment
is determined, not by what we have but by what we are; not by outward
circumstances but through inward harmony.

Jesus said, ‘I am the light of the world. You follow me and I’ll
take you out of the darkness of this world; out of this confusion; out
of this mess you’re in; and I will give you peace and joy. A light will
burn in your heart and mind that you’ve never had before. I will
command the light to come on in your life’.

Have a good week. Pastor Ron.

Optional Bible reading: John 16:5-33

This is one of a series of weekly messages of encouragement
originating from the Derwent Valley, near Hobart, Tasmania, Australia.
A companion Bible study page is available each week. To subscribe email
<> with the words ‘subscribe word (or) word
and study’ Enquire about our weekly e-mail newsletter for young people.

Pastor Ron Clarke (Mark 16:15) Email: Internet
Home Pages: http://www.pastornet.net.au/word4week (Kids World)
http://www.pastornet.net.au/kidswld/index.html