Shout the Joy!

I love you, Lord, my joy, 
not for all you give 
but who you are-- 
and yet your gifts 
drench me in kindness. 
Each one speaks 
the soundless words 
of a true lover 
delighting in the search 
for ways 
to slip his message to me. 
Joy wraps my moments, 
weaves into my days. 

Lights:   
candle flickers, lamp glow, 
liquid moonlight, firefly stars, 
sunbeams shafting into gold, 
fires in my husband's eyes 

Music:  my child's new song, 
mesmerizing balophones, 
rippling jazz, endless possibilities 
of tones and rhythms, harmonies 

Laughter: slapdash wordplays, 
comic kittens, shared delight, 
incredible good news 
spilling over into shouts 

Shouts of joy, indeed, 
the psalmist said, would be  
our true response to wonder. 
We mostly miss our cues, 
I know. 
The days grind on, 
our senses thickly cushioned 
against pain 
but also joy, 
for fear 
that it will prove 
capricious, 
all too transient, 
seducing suckers 
into silly passion. 
The world stays 
dressed in gray 
this safer way. 

But I am sight-starved 
for Reality. Wash 
the windows clean, Lord! 
Laser the lenses 
of my soul 
until I see truly 
all the love notes 
left for me 
in hidden places 
and right under 
my nose. 

May I hope in you, 
not in the sense 
of "maybe" 
but "I know," 
and freely gather joy 
until, heaping,  
these extravagant 
provisions overflow 
and bathe the hurts 
around me 
with healing balm. 

And so, Lord, may 
the inevitable gray 
be streaked with light 
in radiant jewel colors, 
swirled with melodies 
and pulsing rhythms, 
and always punctuated 
by clear laughter 
turning gladly into 
shouts of joy! 

Do you sometimes wake up to a new day but find joy elusive? That happens to me. Sometimes I know what is heavy on my heart. Other times it is just a kind of overwhelming fatigue. Whatever it is, how can I obey this command:

Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! (Phil. 4:4 NIV)

A few days ago I realized that I needed to shift my focus from my worries to my Lord and his blessings. Finding this poem that I wrote 23 years ago reminded me of how that practice changed things for me during a very tough time. I needed to shift my thinking to what he had given me to enjoy, to notice his creative handiwork and the loving essence of his character.

So today I began that same process while on my morning walk. What did I see? Green grass. Flowering bushes. Sunlight gilding the artistically crafted gray clouds covering it until it found a crack to break through. Young squirrels chasing each other up a tree. A pheasant calling from a rooftop. Dark violet irises blossoming in my yard and down the street.

And indoors, a hot shower and my favorite breakfast of homemade granola, nuts, fruit and yogurt. Glenn busy at work on the first-floor extension, preparing to put in the insulation. My computer working well, waiting for me to come work on Nyarafolo Bible translation with my coworker over there in Ferkessédougou, the Internet making it possible. Digging into Isaiah’s rich poetry with him.

When I count my blessings like this, joy rises. The joy of the Lord is always available; he has given us his Spirit who gives joy even when times are hard:, when we listen to his message, first the Good News of rescue, then also the blessings of knowing him: 

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. (1 Thess. 1:6 NIV)

Even Jesus was filled with joy by the Holy Spirit during his ministry when he took note of how God was at work:

At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. (Lk. 10:21 NIV)

So let’s remember to wake up to his Presence, his goodness, his creativity, and find joy. I am constantly challenged by the many times in the Word it is mentioned that there are “shouts of joy.” Most of us don’t do that in our culture—some of us are learning! Why should we shout out our joy? 

The first reason that comes to mind is the focus of Psalm 65 on praise to the God who answers prayer, who fills his people with the good things of his house—this is the joy of connecting with him in worship. Then he also details wonders in creation like the mountains, dawn and sunset, rain, produce for food, water in streams and the glory of grasslands. Even the meadows “shout for joy” and sing (v.13). So shouldn’t we?

And there is that hidden treasure in Psalm 23:

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. (Ps. 23:5 NIV)

My cup overflows with his blessings! Included in those blessings is his provision of joy. We just need to be open to it and let the Spirit pour it in. When it overflows, that joy can bless others too. You can notice the gilded clouds of sunrise and share the wonder with a friend. You delight in the abundance of fruit from your tree and share it with a neighbor. You find out your hibiscus bush is blooming and shout out in wonder. You see the cross-stitched cross your daughter made for you, now a precious encouragement by your desk, and feel gratitude. Joy! Even if it is not “shouted” vocally, your heart can leap and express the message.

And when the news headlines make your spirits drop, these reminders can lift them up:

Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth; Break forth and sing for joy and sing praises. Sing praises to the LORD with the lyre, with the lyre and the sound of melody. With trumpets and the sound of the horn shout joyfully before the King, the LORD. Let the sea roar and all it contains, the world and those who dwell in it. Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy before the LORD, for He is coming to judge the earth; He will judge the world with righteousness And the peoples with equity. (Ps. 98:4-9 NAU)

This also reminds me of songs that have strengthened me on my journey, like this one by Richard Blanchard:

Like the woman at the well, I was seeking
for things that could not satisfy.
And then I heard my Savior speaking—
“Draw from my well that never shall run dry!”
Fill my cup, Lord,
I lift it up Lord;
Come and quench this thirsting of my soul.
Bread of Heaven, feed me till I want no more.
Fill my cup, fill it up and make me whole.   

Living water, Spirit-inspired joy: this leads to shouts of joy in my heart and sometimes out loud, an overflow that can bless others!