Don’t hold back, let us spark Joy!
In a world that has been ‘silenced’, all of us have been thrown into a state of apartness during the FMCO. The lyrics from the Christmas carol “Joy to the World” plays a silent tune in my mind. In Psalm 19, the psalmist describes the heavens and the skies- no speech, no words, no sound yet their voice go out into all the earth. All this reminds me that Heaven and nature sings, yes Heaven and Nature sings!
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.” - Psalm 19:1-4 (NIV)
Each morning, the sky is like a canvas with the many hues and bursts of colours all so wonderfully displayed. One cannot help but lift up one’s eyes to admire the wondrous beauty of the bold strokes of colour that no human hand can create. There is a meditative silence all around us as the clouds glides slowly against a background of the emerging golden rays of the sun that is rising above the horizon. It is such a celebration of Joy!
“When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?” - Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)
Indeed, what is man that God is mindful of him! Who am I that God is mindful of me? The joy of knowing that God who in all His majesty is also a God who knows and cares for me is Joy unspeakable!
I am reminded of what Jesus said in John 15:9-11 – to remain in His love so that His joy may be in us and that our joy may be complete.
“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.” (John 15:9-11 NIV)
As the love of God and the joy of the Lord fill our hearts, let us rejoice in the Lord and choose to spark Joy
The fullness of joy is the assurance of God’s love for us as we remain in His love. It is often said that the joy of the Lord is our strength. As joy fills our hearts, our countenance radiates joy, hope rises in our spirits and we are strengthened to go on in our journey.
When doors have to close to assemblies in church, we also lost the togetherness of fellowship lunches and friendship teas, the cacophony of children’s voices and the hearty exchange of conversations in the hallway. It is now Silence! The unutterable silence fills the empty hall now devoid of people. Many are closeted at home to stay safe. Loneliness, fear, anxiety and worry arise out of prolonged isolation. Is there someone in need of a word of encouragement, a word of cheer, a helping hand, or just to hear their name being spoken?
As the love of God and the joy of the Lord fill our hearts, let us rejoice in the Lord and choose to spark Joy. Will you reach out to a friend, a relative or a colleague and be the sparkle in their life?
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” - Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NIV)