Joy is a Journey
January 19, 2015 by Las Vegas Black Image Magazine
Filed under Business, Conversation
Like three who traveled a great distance, we must all learn that maximum happiness doesn’t come immediately.
BY DR. ROBERT E. FOWLER
DR. ROBERT E. FOWLER
Joy is a process of life. It doesn’t always happen in an instant like we may desire. The Bible speaks of wise men traveling a far distance to see the baby Jesus. These wise men, we all know, started in the east. You might remember the story. They saw this star that indicated that a king was being born. They left and made this journey. When they arrived in Bethlehem, they see this star again. When they see it again, the following verse (Matthew 2:10) says,“When they saw the star, they were filled with joy!”
So they traveled a long way before they were filled with this joy. For them it was a process. It took time. It wasn’t an instant push-button solution.
The Bible makes very clear that this is how joy happens for every one of us. Look at these next couple verses. Psalm 30:5: “Crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”
So it starts with tears in the pain. Then out of those tears, as you spend time with God, recognizing he is there, joy comes in the morning.
Jesus himself taught about it. He said in John 16:20: “You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy.”
Often, we cry our way to a place of joy. Often we grieve our way to a place of joy. Recognizing that God is here with me in my tears, in my grief, I’m thankful for his presence. Out of that, he brings a new kind of joy that is above the circumstance that I’m facing.
Joy is a process. And people who try to find instant joy, who try to make it happen in an instant, usually end up doing the wrong thing. They look for the quick fix. They look for the new thrill. They look for the new kick. They look for the new drug. They look for the new relationship. All of a sudden, you’re worse off than before. That is because what you’re looking for is not joy; you’re just looking for a rush.
And a rush isn’t going to get you anywhere. What you need is lasting joy. That is the journey of life.
For additional infortmation, visit Victory Missionary Baptist Church at 500 W. Monroe Ave, Las Vegas, NV 89106, or call (702) 648-2286.
