Take the Medicine of Joy

Have you ever tried to ride out a headache that wouldn’t go away? You finally take medicine for relief, and eventually you realize the headache has lifted. As a result, you can engage with people better, focus more clearly on the job at hand, and have a better attitude all around. This is what happens to believers when they take the medicine of joy to their home, work, school, and community.

The medicine of joy won’t cure every problem that is wrong with our lives; however, it has the power to change the course of any situation that happens along our day. For some of our problems, we have to laugh to keep from crying—and even in this there is redemption from a sluggish attitude.

Unlike our physical medications, which can only be taken at certain times of the day and in limited amounts, our joy in the Lord can be renewed every single day, all day. The joy in our hearts isn’t limited to the boundaries of everything going just the way we want all the time. In fact, we could be surrounded by despair and the joy will still throb in our hearts.

Even in tough times, our joy can be ignited when we focus on God’s love and plan for our lives. This joy is renewed when we meditate on the grace of God to accept us into the kingdom of Christ. Our joy is full when we know that we are completely forgiven of our sins and accepted into the kingdom of God without restraints.

The joy of the Lord can sustain us through trials and temptations (James 1:2). This doesn’t mean we are joyful about our difficulties; rather, our joy is steadfast because God is in control and will help us grow closer to Him through hardship.

Prayer

Dear Lord, help me to remember to take the medicine of joy when I’m tempted to give into thoughts of despair and anger. In Jesus’ name, amen.

In His Service,

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