by Ted Kalivoda
Do I want Christian joy? I've got a pretty simple solution — develop an attitude of trust in God Almighty. I know that sounds simplistic. But some things in life are just that. I've got to decide whether I'm going to believe that God is trustworthy in what he says.
Like what? He talks continually throughout the Bible about the link between belief and its resulting benefits - joy - and then its cousin - peace. Those are qualities I'm seeing as critical in coping with problems that negatively affect me in daily living.
Here's the scenario I'm faced with. I'm not about to believe someone who hasn't earned my trust. I look for clues that confirm his or her trustworthiness. I see the person, hear his words, and observe the outcome of what he says. I get a pretty good idea as to whether it all jibes with deserving my trust. But I'm learning that determining trustworthiness requires a different perspective when applied to God. With him I must follow a different route, because you understand, I can't see him nor hear him audibly.
I still seek help from people in times of trouble. I can't handle the oppression by myself. I call upon those around me whom I consider wise and trustworthy. Their counsel is comforting and suggestive of actions I should take, and I see those who render that help as instruments of God. After all, he is behind the skills and experience accumulated by counselors, pastors, layman friends, physicians and others.
But what about depending directly on God, as in receiving his care through the Holy Spirit that the Bible speaks of so frequently? He is described as our helper. But he does it in a quiet way, for example, through our reading and meditating on his written words, the Bible. We can't forget that scripture is a document written through inspiration of the Spirit. We can also feel the prompting of the Spirit through other circumstances. Sometimes it may consist of his telling us to merely sit back and do nothing, so that in patience we will see him operate.
The Spirit moves in a multitude of ways beyond our wildest dreams. I'm learning that joy comes from listening to him and trusting him. The essence of New Testament instruction tells us that putting such a spirit-oriented outlook into practice delights and honors the Father. And for us it develops an intimacy with him that produces joy and accompanying peace. Joy and peace - two outstanding words that God uses to describe close fellowship between him and me. That's the kind of relationship he wants, and of course that I want too. It's applying Christianity to all aspects of life; that is, living it, not just talking about it.
Remembering what Paul wrote to Galatian Christians, our minds come back to joy and peace as critical words related to whether we are aligning our lives to the Spirit. The fruit or outcome of our doing that is measured by the joy and peace we experience (Gal. 5:22). If I find myself overtaken by a negative attitude, I can be pretty sure I'm going my own way, not that of the Spirit.
We all want joy and its accompanying peace beyond our salvation experience. The key to getting that satisfaction, Paul tells us a few verses later, is to develop a trust in God as he communicates through the third person of the trinity. A big challenge, then, is that we "keep in step with the Spirit" (Gal. 5:25). How do we do that?
We can't see him, nor can we hear him speaking audibly. Although we rely on sight and sound to determine whether we are going to believe people, God asks us to believe or trust him without those proofs we are so used to. But he doesn't leave us without any direction at all; he instructs through different means, those that require a committed belief that he personally cares about what is happening in our lives (1 Peter 5:7). I have learned that believing his pronouncement of personal care is the first step in the process of realizing joyous living. Following that is my dependence on him in whatever circumstances that come up. No, I haven't arrived at putting that totally into practice. I'm just as weak and obstinate as the next guy. But it's obvious that the joyous life Jesus and his apostles spoke of depends on how far I'm willing to go in trusting God in whatever problems that arise.
The opposite scenario, for me and I suspect for you too, is to go it alone and feel sorry for myself, and then to plod on in life in a depressed state, wondering why God allows the suffering. Oh sure, we display a semblance of faith, like when we mix with fellow believers in church. But really, we know we lack joy." Oh God," we cry out secretly, "Why do you let these things happen to me? We suffer extraordinary afflictions, like disease and premature death of loved ones, as well as lesser but still severe circumstances like financial problems and broken relationships at home. Does God cause them? We can't deny that he allows them, and we won't always find out why. But it would be presumptuous to say he causes them.
So what's the remedy? Think about it. Then make a decision as to what you're going to do about it. Your peace and joy are at stake.
