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Pure Joy

by Tina

I really like the sound of pure joy. How about you? Pure joy sounds amazing actually. While looking through my drafts, the following verse spoke to me. However, I wasn’t feeling that pure joy. Infact, I was feeling quite dry, which is ironic considering all of my water metaphors lately. 

Yes, dry, burnt out, and listening to my feelings. Feelings just can’t be trusted. I know this. So how do you consider anything pure joy when you’re not feeling it? 

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” 

James 1:2-4

I sent a couple of emails out to two of my closest friends before I wrote this. To one I asked, What’s wrong with me? However, I wasn’t just thinking about me, I was really  concerned about my other friend so I sent out my queery. Even though I’m struggling with my own thoughts and feelings, my empathy was stronger.

A sinking person may not be the best person to try and lift a friend who’s struggling to rise, but then again maybe we can keep one other afloat till we get to that shore. There’s a meme that I really love… this one here: 

LOVE… yes! If the trials of life teach us to love one another deeply maybe that right there should be considered PURE JOY. 

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.” 

1 Peter 4:8 

Love alone is worth the fight… get up.

(Photo credits go to Pixabay.com users sasint and jarmoluk.)

17 thoughts on “Pure Joy”

  2. Joy does not mean the same as happy. Happy is fleeting and depends on our circumstances. Joy depends on knowing Jesus. We can have joy but not be happy about circumstances. Example- I am not happy about having chronic illness at all. Living with pain does not make me happy. But I have joy in the midst of it because I know Jesus and that he is working through my situation to reach others.

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  4. Tina, I like your interpretation of pure joy, “If the trials of life teach us to love one another deeply maybe that right there should be considered PURE JOY.” Caring, compassion, and love, spread feelings of joy, and are what our world needs. 💗

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  5. First I have to say how wild this is because a couple of the things you said were also things I used in an upcoming post I was working on. 😱 Funny how the Lord works that way! But I also want to say how much I love the point you made. “If the trials of life teach us to love one another deeply maybe that right there should be considered PURE JOY.” So beautifully said! There is also so much healing power when we take our focus off of our own hardships and instead focus on helping others. What a blessing it is to both parties. Thanks for sharing this lovely post! Blessings! ❤️

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  6. Keeping one another afloat ❤️love that!!….the idea of humility, encouragement, fellowship, relatability came to mind when I was reading this….we were made for relationship in the good and bad alike.

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