Joy gives us Wings

Spectacular mountain scenery all around me; fantastic winding, undulating roads beneath my motorcycle’s wheels; blue sky above; a toothbrush and a change of clothes tucked away in the panniers; and a feeling of exhilaration – of connectedness with a fine machine and the natural world – and a disconnectedness with the ever-increasing problems of modern life!
I can spell all of this in three letters: “JOY”.
The background to my experience this week were some rare blank spaces in my normally overcrowded diary, a weather forecast that faithfully promised two days of fine weather and a map in my head of some remote country roads that were begging to be re-visited. The die was cast, and the joy flowed.
With all the will in the world and with all the best efforts we can summon, it’s arguably more difficult now than ever before, to capture the essence of a deep-seated joy in life – the kind of joy that will lift our spirits, give us hope and enable us to appreciate the fullness of the life we were created to live. So many things get in the way – things of our own, or others, making. Perhaps this has been exacerbated by the Covid catastrophe, but it’s hard to deny that the simple emotion known as joy can be elusive in these uncertain times.
Biblical writers knew nothing of the joys of riding a motorcycle through spectacular mountain ranges on fine, sunny days! They couldn’t envisage the kind of joyful opportunities you and I take for granted when planning to travel to far off exotic holiday destinations in the lazy, hazy days of summer. They were oblivious to the considerable comforts that modern life has made possible.
And yet, joy resounds in choruses of praise throughout the scriptures! The writers of the Psalms repeatedly, and exuberantly, gave voice to the joy they were witnessing and experiencing. One writes of the trees of the forest singing for joy. Another, “let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad. Let the fields be jubilant; let the distant shores rejoice.” Still another writes: “Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name.”
It’s here that we come closest to understanding why. For the constant theme of scripture is that joy can be discovered, expressed and experienced by God’s people – even in the face of circumstances that can mitigate against it! That joy emanates from a close relationship with God, enabling us to be joyful – even when trouble, calamities, challenges and tough times work against us. For joy in our heavenly father flows from a deep-seated confidence in his love for his creation, for his people and for his intention to care for all who choose to invest in the relationship he offers.
Human joy can be deep – though transient. When the football team we support wins the grand final, our joy can border on the delirious. But it’s transient. It passes. The joy that flows from a relationship with God in which we inherit promises that stand forever, is very different. This kind of joy is deeply-rooted and permeates every facet of our lives. It’s something that no-one – absolutely no-one – can take away from us, for it changes the very fundamentals of our lives.
It gives us wings. It makes us glad. Very glad!