“LET NO ONE TAKE AWAY YOUR JOY”
_"You too now have sadness; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy." John 16:22_
Many times Jesus announced to his disciples that it was necessary for him to die but also that he was going to be resurrected. It seems that his followers were confused and could not bear this announcement, their spiritual eyes were clouded. Now Jesus was going to be handed over to be sentenced in a few hours and the time of sadness was about to begin. Three days of anguish, loneliness, hopelessness, helplessness. But it would be temporary.
The total Fulfillment of this Announcement took place in the Resurrection and from there all those feelings of sadness disappeared to give way to Permanent Joy. Never again would the disciples of Jesus be alone, lost, without Hope or Direction. Knowing that Christ lives forever implies that Joy is too. In fact, Jesus Himself was their Joy! Even if there was some sadness that the Lord ascended to heaven, He sent His Holy Spirit to dwell within them and keep that Joy in their hearts.
Jesus said that no one will take away our Joy. The phrase is absolute: Nobody. Nothing external to us can extinguish what He has “ignited in our hearts.” Extreme situations, difficult moments, tribulations, anguish may come, however, the Joy does not go away. How is it possible?
We must not confuse “joy with Joy”. Joy is circumstantial, the Joy of Jesus is not a feeling, it is a “virtue”, just as the rest of the Fruit of the Spirit are (Galatians 5:22-23). If Love, Peace, Patience, Kindness, and even Temperance were feelings, we would constantly lose them. They really are Virtues that the Spirit of God produces in our soul, Strengths in our character, the Foundation that motivates our behavior. According to biblical commentators, Joy is the “Permanent Delight of the heart” as a result of a quality of life based on the Eternal and Secure Relationship of a child with the Heavenly Father. When circumstances warrant it, there are external manifestations of that internal Joy.
When Jesus is our Joy, we have constant security knowing that He is in Control of what happens around us, that He takes care of our needs, and that every detail of our life is safe in His Hands. Even Jesus, two verses later, tells us that our Joy will be Fulfilled by seeing the answers to our Prayers: “Until now you have asked for nothing in my name; ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be fulfilled.” (John 16 v. 24).
Are you experiencing the Joy of Jesus? Remember that it comes as a result of the Work of the Spirit in your character. Affirm your Faith daily in the Word of God, listen to His Voice in your heart, take time to be in His Presence, allow Him to fill your soul constantly and do not let anything or anyone take away your Joy.
Good morning blessings!!!❤️🩹
