A Mission Of Joy

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Always be joyful. (1 Thessalonians 5:16)

“JOY IS THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF HEAVEN,” C. S. Lewis once wrote, suggesting that the delights of God’s Kingdom are not just an option for us but actually an imperative. Most of us can imagine the atmosphere around God being one of joy, although some of us may have trouble seeing anything but judgment or the seriousness of the mission. And most of us can appreciate the invitation into God’s joy as a wonderful opportunity—that is, if we can get past the responsibilities and to-do lists of this day, or this week, or this year. But joy as an expectation? A mandate? An all-important necessity? That seems unrealistic. Some might even see it as an excuse to be irresponsible.

But joy is high on God’s list of priorities for us. Anything we do that does not include joy, or at least lead to it, misrepresents his nature. He is not sitting in heaven sweating over our financial difficulties, our relational problems, or our desperate need for fulfillment. Never has he looked at our problems and said, “Oh no! What am I going to do? How can I possibly fix this one?” No, he sees the end of things from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10) and is not in suspense about what is to come. He is already relaxed about the outcome. You can be too.

One of your primary assignments in life—before paying the bills, before accomplishing your tasks or dreams, and instead of stressing out your friends and family with all of your worries—is to carry the simple joy of heaven everywhere, even into the dense, dark places of the world. To do so, you will have to be rooted in that other realm, which is untouched by the stresses and conflicts of the world. Insist on your joy, your peace, your simplicity being unflappable and unflagging. Represent the heart of your Father by reflecting his delight and his assurance that all will be well.

{Father, I lose sight of your joy in the midst of my problems, even when I know it to be true. Let me not be deceived by my circumstances. Lift my eyes above the fray and out of the moment to see—and embody—the joy of your Kingdom. Amen.