Bring Joy with You

How sweet all at once it was for me to be rid of those fruitless joys which I had once feared to lose!… You drove them from me, You who are the true, the sovereign joy. You drove them from me and took their place, you who are sweeter than all pleasure. - St. Augustine

My friend’s dad died in the same city where he was born. He traveled rarely, never made a lot of money, held little power, and merited no grand headlines. But at his funeral, the church was packed with people who loved him.

Besides glowing words about loving his wife and raising wonderful children, one profound comment crystallized the eulogy: “He did not look for a job to bring him joy, he brought joy to every job he did.”

What a powerful statement to summarize a life well lived.

We think that joy is found in the circumstances of life, in the hand we are dealt, in the friends and possessions we accumulate. But situations change and the sources of external joy evaporate quickly.

True joy is a gift from God that wells up within us based upon His presence in our lives, not our circumstances. David sang, "Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.” (Psalm 21:6)

Don’t look outside for a new toy to bring you joy. Invest in your relationship with God and let the joy that can only come from him provide the eternal blessing we all long for.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc