Honestly, its hard walking onto Bangla Rd, seeing the perversity on that street and claiming joy for your soul. And for me, its been a personally long struggle of wondering where my joy in life went. Well, I've found it – and its been where I knew it was the whole time – in the promises and arms of Jesus.
Last week, we sat before heading out to the bars and I just felt uneasy so we sat and prayed for a while and then decided to head out to a road we hadn't been on before. As we walked there (about 10 minutes), my team leader, Kirsten, decided to really make me claim joy. And how? – you may ask: by shouting out that I have Unspeakable Joy no matter what, Unspeakable Joy even when I'm hurting, Unspeakable Joy through trials, etc. Literally, screaming this out as we walked – what a freeing feeling! Not being afraid to shout in a mall that my God gives liberally pours unspeakable JOY over me! We went out that night – and I have never been so filled with joy and love for those people. I wanted to talk to everyone that would let me, I desired to speak truth, life, and conviction into these women and men that we met. I desired to share the joy I had inside me – because Jesus CANNOT be contained, He will not be boxed up, He is not a God who can be pushed to the side.
"Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice" (Phil. 4:4). So much of Philippians is filled with exhortations to rejoice – rejoice in Jesus, for no other joy is truly filling or life-changing. Claim the promise of joy and then live it out! Just like love is a choice, so is joy – choose to rejoice in Christ and choose to share that joy with others.
Joy is a beautiful form of encouragement, and we are called to encourage and lift up one another – pour joy into those around you. Trust me – whoever is on the receiving end…they'll thank you. Thank you once more for the many prayers I know you are uplifting for my team – we are so thankful for them and it is encouraging to know so many are invested into this trip.
In Jesus' Joy!
Amy<><