I almost did.  Yes, the woman with a ministry of encouragement to others, almost lost her joy recently.  I’ve heard many preachers and teachers say,  “Joy isn’t the same thing as being happy. It’s a spiritual condition if you’ve lost your joy.”   I would add to that…or…it’s a prescription medicine malfunction…just saying!

Yes, through a calamity of one drug not agreeing with me and then taking another I was allergic to while not taking the one I should be taking…I have been a mess.  It’s a long story.  However, I’m happy to say now that everything has been figured out, I am on the road to recovery…again.  In about 80 days, I should be myself again!  But hey, who’s counting?

The other night I received a call from the game show, “Let’s Ask America.”  They wanted to Skype with me at 8:00 giving me little prep time as it was 6:00 when they called.   Then the next day, they wanted me to Skype with the producer since the casting person liked me.  They also asked to add my daughter into the mix as they were looking for contestants for their Mother’s Day special.  One of the things that attracted them to me was the fact that I was an author and speaker…until I told them what I wrote and spoke about.  LOL.  Being in ministry is never popular.  Anyway, they also thought it was hilarious when I told them my husband says that I was so encouraging I poop rainbows.  I think that simple statement was what got me as far as it did in the process.  However, so far, we haven’t been called back so I suspect we will not be on the Mother’s Day show.

As I was pulling together my thoughts for my blog, I came to this conclusion.  Each one of us naturally desires to be joyful.  We seek others who will encourage us and help us to stay positive. We might also look to material goods, food, self-help books etc., to keep us happy.  As I was dwelling on this, I tried to put some thoughts down as a note on my phone so I didn’t lose my train of thought.  I hit the button for Siri to take notes.

I think I hit the wrong one though and when I spoke the title, “Can someone lose their joy?”

Siri piped up and said, “I don’t know.  I cannot answer that question.”

Then she proceeded to go search the internet for answers.  When she came back with some websites, she provided various viewpoints on joy to peruse.  There are a lot of worldly answers out there for finding joy and it seems everyone is looking for it in their own way.  However, at times, we are all a little “intoxicated” by things in our world.  Wrong prescriptions, entertainment, materialism and other worldly things.  You name it…Satan will use it to keep us preoccupied and miss the joy we are meant to have as believers. The answers Siri gave weren’t necessarily solutions based on God’s Word, either.  However, our society is taught to believe that if Google says it, we should believe it.  Unfortunately, the solutions the world has to offer about joy are only temporary, if they even work at all.

I found this statement by Chuck Swindoll a bit disturbing.  He said, “In vain I have searched the Bible, looking for examples of early believers whose lives were marked by rigidity, predictability, inhibition, dullness, and caution. Fortunately, grim, frowning, joyless saints in Scriptures are conspicuous by their absence. Instead, the examples I find are of adventurous, risk-taking, enthusiastic, and authentic believers whose joy was contagious even in times of full trial. Their vision was broad even when death drew near. Rules were few and changes were welcome. The contrast between then and now is staggering.

I believe, we are living in a world that has lost its joy…even in the church.  Where is the enthusiasm from believers?  Where is the joy in serving the Lord even when it is painful?  Where are the risk-takers for the cause of Christ?  When was the last time you stepped out of your rigid schedule and did something spontaneous for God?  Are others able to recognize the joy in your life and know there is something different because Christ is living in you?  Is your joy contagious?

Winning $50,000 on a game show would make me happy.  Taking the right medicines or not taking the wrong ones, helps me feel better and keep a smile on my face.  However, the one thing in this life that is going to give me true joy that surpasses all understanding is my relationship with God.  He truly is the One that can fill us to overflowing.

My question today is, are you looking for joy in all the wrong places?  Has your spiritual journey become one of such rigidity and legalism that you’ve forgotten to trust God?  Are you so drugged by the things of this world that you no longer see clearly the wonderful gift we have in our relationship with God?  Do you look to the Bible for answers or is Google and/or Siri your source for all information?

Lord, please help us to wake up to see what joy there is in serving You!  Help us to be enthusiastic Christians, just like the first day when we asked you to come into our hearts.  Help us to discern between the things of this world that are temporary and the things of You that will be everlasting…authentic…contagious…full of joy!

Have a great week and don’t forget to get out there and be a blessing!

John 16:23-24 (NKJV)   “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.  Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.