Shatterproof Joy: The Joy Is in the Giver Not in the Gift

Upon what is our gaze fixed? Are we like a two year olds with our wants and wishes? Ever reaching out our hands for the glitzy, or for the fun. Perhaps our greatest desires are for heath, status or money? You fill in the blank. If our eyes are not fixed on Jesus, our cups will never be full, our joy will always be lacking with our insatiable lusts for more clinging steadfastly to our flesh. Enough will never be enough. Indeed, Jesus told us in John 10:10 (NIV): “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” “Excellent, extraordinary, superfluous, superabundantly, over and over, more exceedingly,” is the definition of the word “full” used here. Everything else is less, so much less.   

We all have needs and wants. But if one is filled with the Lord Jesus, when our needs or wants are met, they are as merely a “cherry on top” – nice but not necessary. They are all limited in there nature and in there comfort. He, and only He, is the One Who can fill a human soul and they will not be found wanting. Money, which is said to be the answer to all things, is nice, but cannot command ease in sickness much less quiet a wounded spirit. Honor is better than disgrace but does not help against pain or wounded souls. Jesus came to set us free from the bondage of these things and either eliminate them or carry us through them on eagle’s wings. Indeed, if those who are perceived by the world as being on top of the world – lacking no worldly things – they lack all without Christ. God is all good things and every good thing – all else is temporal and passing. Nice but not necessary. Yet, Christ is all-sufficient, self-sufficient and alone-sufficient. If He is our portion we will find in Him all your heart desires. He is both rivers of pleasures and fullness of joys. He alone is rest for the weary, a shadow from the blazing heat, strength for our weakness and a shelter from our greatest storms. He is the God of all comforts. Whatever your circumstances may be, He can handle them and carry you on eagle’s wings through them.

Jesus is the Tree of Life and in Him we discover all comforts, all joys, and every good thing. His Living Water within us - filled to overflowing – equips us to live life to the full when we choose to “rest secure in Him”. Anxiety and worry are not fit attire for the child of the King. His desire is to be our sufficiency and strength – He is our ever present help in our time of need and of plenty.