Don't Let Him
Dan Kunz
As our family continues to navigate through the sorrow and sadness brought about by the death of our loved one, days go by without much joy. We know that God loved us enough to send his Son into the world to suffer and die for our sins so that we might trust in Jesus as our Savior and be with him to enjoy the realms of heaven. Doesn’t it make sense that God also wants us to experience joy in this life, as perhaps a taste of the things to come?
Our Heavenly Father didn’t just create a world in which we can exist; he created a world in which we can live. That means the beauty of creation, the amazing food we eat, the love of our family and friends, the fellowship of our brothers and sisters in faith, the incredible diversity of music we hear, are all significant attempts by God to make our lives rich and full and joyful and to encourage us to praise him for his goodness and love.
Don’t let the Devil steal your joy! Since he is God’s enemy, he is also our enemy. He can’t hurt God directly, but he can certainly try to hurt us and try to lure us away from our Heavenly Father. One way he does this by driving a wedge between us and God. He did it in the Garden of Eden when he lied to Eve and made her question God. He sometimes drives that wedge between us and God by trying to take away our joy, even in earthly things. I Peter 5:8 Have sound judgement. Be alert. Your adversary, the Devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.
Let’s say that someone really finds joy in making music, playing the piano, or guitar or the harp. When faced with sorrow, sadness, or devastation, such as loss of health, or a job, or a loved one, that person may be so burdened, so down-hearted, he or she just doesn’t feel like making music, or maybe even listening to music. The joy is gone. Don’t let the Devil steal your joy! By doing so, he’s driving a wedge, not only between you and something you love, but also between you and your Heavenly Father, who created music and wants you to be happy! It may take time and a great deal of willpower (as well as fervent prayer) but remember the joy that activity or hobby has brought you. That’s a gift that we shouldn’t relinquish too easily.
Of course, our greatest joy of all is in the Lord. If the Devil is able to separate us from earthly things which bring us joy, you can bet his next target is the joy in our relationship with our Heavenly Father and our brother, Jesus. People who lose their joy in life, may also lose their joy in the Author of Life. The wedge has split us apart from God himself. The Devil all the while whispering in our ear that God doesn’t really love us.
The Apostle Paul, who knew more than a little about sadness and sorrow, exhorted his readers in many of his letters, but especially in Philippians 3, to rejoice. It’s baffling to understand how someone who spent much of his life in prison could encourage others to rejoice, but he did. It’s certainly not easy to find joy when life’s walls are closing in all around you, but, with the Spirit’s help, you can do it. Philippians 3:1 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.