The Pulse: Join the Resistance

March 7, 2022

“Joy is an act of protest. It is resisting the temptation to allow your bad circumstances to be lord over you.”

These words from Bryan Lorrits point to the countercultural nature of joy. In a world marked by global uncertainty, political outrage, and unrelenting personal challenges, true joy is an act of resistance. And it bears witness to the reality that something other than my circumstances is lord of my life. That’s one of the reasons why joy is a fruit of the Spirit within us (Galatians 5).

Joy doesn’t mean continuous and ever-flowing happy feelings. Just a brief survey of the Psalms shows us that the same Bible that says “rejoice” also says “my God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Jesus is described as a man of sorrows in Isaiah, but in Hebrews as one who endured the cross for the joy that was set before Him. Biblical joy is not incompatible with sadness and grief.

So what does it mean to be joyful, then? True joy is a deep gladness in the character and faithfulness of God. And it’s one of the clearest indicators that God’s at work in our lives.

I love what Pierre Teilhard de Chardin wrote in the early 20th century. “Joy is the surest sign of the presence of God.” Those words may be even truer now than they were then.

May you and I, by God’s grace and through His Spirit, join the resistance and in so doing point others to the Author of Joy dwelling inside us. All for His glory!

Matt

P.S. If you missed yesterday’s service, catch the message here. Be sure to join at 9:15 and 11am this coming Sunday as we continue exploring the explosive and radically Jesus-centered letter to the Colossians.

Matt Murphy
Lead Pastor