“For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” Rom 14:17

The Christian faith is not only tribulations or sufferings. Those who have this viewpoint have greatly exaggerated the nature of faith in Jesus Christ. While Paul said that we should endure many tribulations to enter the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:22), His Kingdom is not all about sufferings. More than sufferings, it is righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. Christians don’t need to suffer needlessly whenever possible; we should escape sufferings that lead to death such as persecution. Death should be resisted as long as we know that this is not the appointed time yet.

When the Lord was persecuted in His hometown, he travelled and moved to Galilee. When the early Christians failed to stop the persecution arising from the Jews in Jerusalem, they went into all the surrounding cities, building faith communities and sharing the love of Jesus to the gentiles. These faith communities are characterized by “love feasts” and joy in the Holy Ghost. The word joy brings to mind happiness which the human mind equates with laughter.

Laughter is a shallow definition of joy. One can be joyful even in the midst of suffering or persecution because our joy is not dependent on our circumstances but in our fellowship with the Lord. The joy that comes from the Lord is dependent on His peace and forgiveness, His comfort which He shows to everyone who comes to Him. When I asked the Lord why Christians should be full of joy, He told me that it was because we have been forgiven. Like many believers, I thought that joy in the Lord is dependent on my state of being happy but I have found that this too is selfish or more focused on me than on the Lord.

Sometimes, I still find difficult to comprehend that one can be joyful in the midst of suffering but because the Lord comforts me in those times and because He lifts my depression away indeed I am filled with joy and want to proclaim His goodness before many congregations. David wrote, “But let all who take refuge in Thee be glad, Let them ever sing for joy; And mayest Thou shelter them, That those who love Thy name may exult in Thee” (Ps 5:11). “Thou wilt make known to me the path of life; In Thy presence is fulness of joy; In Thy right hand there are pleasures forever” (Ps 16:11). Doesn’t that make you jump for joy? God shelters and protects His people, and in His presence is fullness of joy.

The joy we have been looking is simplified in this, that we draw near to Him and bring the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving. The fulfilment that we have been seeking elsewhere can only be found in Him! Rest is in God, Joy is in God and true pleasures can only be found in Him! Therefore, as we go to our offices and engage the day, let us be wary and bring the Spirit of Joy in the midst of our workplace. Just as burdens can manifest in our face, so does joy; and there can be no better way to share the love of God to others than to exude His joy daily.  David further reasoned why we should be joyful,

“Because Thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips will praise Thee. So I will bless Thee as long as I live; I will lift up my hands in Thy name. My soul is satisfied as with marrow and fatness, and my mouth offers praises with joyful lips. When I remember Thee on my bed, I meditate on Thee in the night watches, for Thou hast been my help, and in the shadow of Thy wings I sing for joy.” Ps 63:3-7

“How lovely are Thy dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God.” Ps 84:1-2

To God belongs life everlasting and His dwelling places are lovely. There is no darkness, perturbations or distractions that can come from God. He is described as having a throne that is glass like (Rev 4:6) which only means His presence is calming and His stability removes all hurts and confusions. Just being forgiven restores the joy of the Lord and removes the darkness in our life, “Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation, and sustain me with a willing spirit” (Ps 51:12). He comforts us with total care, saying we can abandon all our burdens to Him, "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.” Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls.  "For My yoke is easy, and My load is light" ( Matt 11:28-30). Let us therefore come to Him that He may restore to us the joy that we have lost and bless us with His infilling presence, “and that He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you, whom heaven must receive until the period of restoration of all things about which God spoke by the mouth of His holy prophets from ancient time" (Acts 3:20-21).

Today God is increasingly opening up every facet of knowledge and wisdom that have been hidden in the past generations. Just being part of this company through whom God reveals these truths is already a great honor. Our goal though is not only to know the truth but to walk in it and reflect it in to this world. Truth sets us free and every revelation that proceeds from the truth brings advancement to humankind. On the contrary, those who pursue the opposite may gain the knowledge and treasuries of the world but at what price? They lose their souls trying to win the world.

Our goal is not only to be happy or be joyful, but to use this joy that we have to proclaim the Kingdom of God. The main reason why the great commission needs to be proclaimed to “every creature” is because we have the joy of God’s Kingdom. This joy of forgiveness and fellowship with the Eternal One does not preclude others; it is inclusive, even to the lower creatures of the earth such as the creation. God’s nature is to redeem and restore everyone willing to come to Him.  He had been restoring the earth, but more so, He wants to restore us into fellowship with Him, “who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14 NIV)