Is it even possible to feel joy today?

So here’s a question for you:  Is it possible to feel joy in the midst of difficult times?

I asked a question on Facebook recently.  What one word describes how you are feeling right now?

There were the anticipated responses like, anxious, tired, weary and fearful. There were even words like grateful, compassionate, and hopeful but one word I did not see was joyful/joy.

And I am wondering, in uncertain times like we find ourselves in today, is it possible that we can still find joy?

This is what scripture tells us in James 1:2-5

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (NIV)

Honestly, there are some things in Scripture that can leave us scratching our heads.  Does James really think that I’m going to be joyful when I’m going through the tough moments in life? 

Are we supposed to be joyful when the world seems to be in a constant state of fear?  Really?

Joy is often the last thing we think or feel when we are struggling, or dealing with fears and doubts.  It certainly wasn’t the top ten answer on my Facebook question.  It didn’t even make the list!

Yet, that’s what James says in his letter:  “Consider it pure joy.” Why?  Because it’s a chain reaction.  View it as joy because this trial can test your faith and show you just how much you need God.  And when you realize that about your faith, your faith can mature and grow.

Really, joy? 

Joy when someone is throwing you under the bus?  Joy when people are talking about you behind your back?  Joy when you crave the touch of another human but the fear of this virus is overwhelming? Joy?

Maybe what James is ultimately pointing us to is that we can reach a place in our faith when we see past the emotions and situations we encounter and still see that God is present. It’s a place on the other side of anxiety, pain and doubt.  It’s the place where we know that no matter what, God is there.

And when we have seen God work in our trials, we know, without a doubt that God is going to be there in the future and that God is never going to leave.

• God won’t leave us during this provincial “stay-home” order we are currently in.

• God won’t leave us as we wait for test results.

• God won’t leave us as we are trying to figure out how to make ends meet after a sudden job loss.

• God is with us no matter what! 

And for me, knowing with certainty that God is there in the midst of all of it, allows me to feel joy.

Maybe James was on to something!

When Jesus got angry...

We don’t initially think of Jesus as angry, do we?  Loving, yes, angry not so much. But Jesus did get angry.  For instance:

• When he cleared the temple of the moneychangers and animal-sellers (Matthew 21:12-13), and

• In the synagogue in Capernaum when the Pharisees refused to answer Jesus’ question (Mark 3:5)

Jesus did sometimes become angry  - which in and of itself shows that anger is a God- given emotion, HOWEVER — it is what we do with that emotion that makes all the difference.

Ephesians 4:26 says clearly, “in your anger do not sin” and not to let the sun go down on our anger.  Notice we are not told to avoid, or suppress or even ignore anger but we are told to deal with it properly and in a timely fashion.

So I know you want to know WWJD in times of anger.  So here are a few things I have discovered:

1. His anger had the proper motivation. In other words, He was angry for the right reasons. Jesus’ anger did not arise from petty arguments or personal slights against Him. There was no selfishness involved.

2. His anger had the proper focus. He was not angry at God or at the “weaknesses” of others. His anger targeted sinful behaviour and true injustice.

3. His anger had the proper supplement. Mark 3:5 says that His anger was attended by grief over the Pharisees’ lack of faith. Jesus’ anger stemmed from love for the Pharisees and concern for their spiritual condition. It had nothing to do with hatred or ill will.

4. His anger had the proper control. Jesus was never out of control, even in His wrath. The temple leaders did not like His cleansing of the temple (Luke 19:47), but He had done nothing sinful. He controlled His emotions; His emotions did not control Him.

5. His anger had the proper duration. He did not allow His anger to turn into bitterness; He did not hold grudges. He dealt with each situation properly, and He handled anger in good time.

6. His anger had the proper result. Jesus’ anger had the inevitable consequence of godly action. Jesus’ anger, as with all His emotions, was held in check by the Word of God; thus, Jesus’ response was always to accomplish God’s will.

We’ve been feeling a lot of emotions these days, and let’s be honest some of us are feeling a little more angry than normal. It is okay to be angry but remember “in your anger do not sin.”  It’s what we do with this God-given emotion that makes all the difference.

I second that emotion.

So I'm wondering, how are you? Like really?

Honestly, I have found this question to be a complicated one to answer recently. People ask, “So how are you doing?” and I pause. I wonder if I should tell them the truth, that things are really not great. Or should I just say “Fine thanks, how are you?” Which I am loathed to do.  Because I am really not “fine”. 

I am feeling many different things and I wonder if the recipient of my answer has the emotional bandwidth to receive it.  So my elevator response has become, “I’m hanging in.”  Which, when I think about it, doesn’t say much of anything but interestingly people accept it and we move on to talking about the weather.

This got me thinking. So, I posted a question on my Facebook page. It was fascinating how people responded.  The question I asked was: what one word best describes how you are feeling right now?  I purposely did not put barriers or restrictions around the question. There was no mention of the pandemic or the lockdown or politics… just, "how are you feeling right now”? 

How would you answer that question? What one word summarizes your emotional state, right now? 

Here are some of the top responses to my mini survey: 

• tired

• heavy

• angry

• lonely

• confused

• anxious

• fearful

• numb

• weary

• compassion,

• fortunate,

• hopeful,

• joyful,

• grateful

I think for me, if there would be one word to summarize my emotional state right now, it would be the word unsettled.

It is, and has been for many, a very emotional time. We are feeling all the feels — and that is not a bad thing because so did Jesus.

How often we forget that Our God is an emotional God. God is not void of feelings. We have emotions because we are made in the image of God. Not only is God an emotional, feeling God but God cares deeply about our emotions and feelings.

It is so easy for our emotions to be based on our circumstances… by the opinions of others, the pressures of life, and opportunities we had or didn’t have. As a result we end up on a constant emotional roller coaster following the ups and downs of this shaky world. It is so easy for our emotions to be controlled by the things of the world rather than the foundation of love laid before us by the sacrificial love of Jesus.

It’s interesting that Scripture clearly describes a link between emotional health and trust.

Isaiah 26:3-4 says, “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock.

Psalm 56:3-4 says, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?” 

And Psalm 33:21 says, “For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in His holy name.”

Scripture makes clear that our emotional health is directly linked to our level of trust.

In John 14:27 Jesus says, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” 

God’s heart is to fill you with peace. 

God has consistent, constant peace available to you. But, as scripture lays out for us clearly, we must trust the Lord in every area of your life.

In these isolating and weird times, look to your Heavenly Father for peace. Find rest in God’s abundant love for you. Find your self-worth and confidence in the fact that God so desired a relationship with you that he laid down his own life to have it. 

As we draw close to God, may our lives be marked by increasing emotional health as we grow in trust.