This beautiful Hymn is one of my favourite hymns. It was written and arranged musically by B.E. Warren in the 20th Century. This hymn is about our Christian life and for those who know the lyrics may this song bring joy to your hearts and spirit as you sing and enjoy the presence of the Lord in worship.
1. I have found His grace is all complete, He supplieth every need; While I sit and learn at Jesus' feet, I am free, yes free indeed.
2. I have found the pleasure I once craved, It is joy and peace within; What a wondrous blessing I am saved from the awful gulf of sin.
Chorus: It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, full of glory, full of glory; It is joy unspeakable and full of glory, Oh the half has never yet been told.
3. I have found that hope so bright and clear, living in the realm of grace; Oh the Saviour's presence is so near, I can see His smiling face.
4. I have found the joy no tongue can tell, How its waves of glory roll! It is like a great o'er flowing well, springing up within my soul.
Joy is a gift that each and every believer should have. Joy is a feeling of great pleasure and happiness. It is also used informally to express success and satisfaction.
J - Jesus
O - Overcomer
Y - Yielded
We cannot have joy without Jesus. David a former king of Israel was inspired to write about the joy that the LORD brought to His heart. "The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him." ~ Psalms 28:7 Jesus was indeed from the beginning as He said because He was able to fill king David with Himself (because Joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit which is only found through Jesus) and He wants to give us His joy.
But which joy did Jesus have? Hebrews 12:2 ~ "fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sad down at the right hand of the throne of God." This is the joy that Jesus has and wants to give to us, joy that endures stress, hardships, perils, storms, feelings of ill-will and disasters. If our joy can outlast those challenging situations whether around us or within us, then it means we have the joy that Jesus has. This joy goes beyond the borders of happiness that only lasts for a time until good is done and over. But joy is a continuous and active entity that remains even when all is lost, because joy is being excited at what will come at the end of suffering. It is looking forward to the rainbow at the end of the tunnel when skies are darkened and grey (of course it involves hope too and faith) but it is the burning excitement to see ourselves arrive at the finish line even if we have not received a huge pay check or there's no one there to applaud or greet us. It's the excitement of knowing that we made it through the process of the refinery and come out shining. I made it! I did it! It is then realising that nothing was accomplished with only our strength or power but with the help of someone greater whom we love. Joy stays and empowers our being to overcome many more challenges. Not of myself, because my own strength fails me at times when I want to be strong. But God's strength never fails and it comes in the form of joy to look above the negatives so that we can focus on the positives. What a blessing it is to know that we can acquire such an asset from the King of all Kings and the Lord of all Lords, the conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23: meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. ~ Galatians 5:22 - 23.
As joy is a part of the fruit of the Spirit, it doesn't come alone. So when we take a bite of the fruit and we experience joy, it is more than likely that we will also taste love, peace, faith, goodness and other parts of the fruit especially if we continue to consume it. A believer who has partaken of the fruit of the Spirit is a believer who knows the joy of the Lord. Fruit is a nutritious matter for our bodies, and helps to build up our immune system from diseases also to sustain us in times of hunger. No wonder a believer who exemplifies the joy of the Lord is ready to do so much for God. It's as if they are full of the functions of an energiser bunny, going and going and going at full energy not wanting to stop. Joy doesn't come easy, it comes after waiting on the LORD. Isaiah 40:31 ~ "but they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk and not faint." So as you wait with hope on God to speak to you, deliver you or help you He comes and renews you with His Spirit. Whatever you need should not be a worry to you while you wait on the LORD. In waiting you are longing for Him and not His gifts, if He choses to gift you then be grateful and thank Him for His blessings. God's presence should be the greatest longing in our hearts, the thing we long for the most above situations dark or desperate. We should turn our desperation towards our LORD instead so that He can strengthen our hearts. Sometimes we get the gifts but lack the strength to fight against the adversary that comes to steal the gifts that God has given to us. But when we seek Him more than looking for gifts from Him, the strength He gives empowers us to resist the devil and maintain the blessings that God will give to us. We don't want to lose your past blessings in a fight against the adversary because you were only looking forward so much for a big blessing that your heart was set on gaining.
May God you find the wisdom of Heaven to operate and function in the Grace of God despite the many challenges that you may face from time to time. May the joy of the LORD be your daily strength for the rest of your life. Amen!
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