Unshakable Joy
Sophia Steed // UGA Student & College Intern
Unshakable Joy
“I will build you up again, and you, Virgin Israel, will be rebuilt. Again you will take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.” JEREMIAH 31:4
“When the men were returning home after David had killed the Philistine, the women came out from all the towns of Israel to meet King Saul with singing and dancing, with joyful songs and with timbrels and lyres. As they danced, they sang: “Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands.” 1 SAMUEL 18:6-7
“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” PSALM 30:11
Dancing with Jesus
This is a phrase I heard this summer, and one that has been a part of my daily prayer ever since: that I would find myself dancing with Jesus each day.
Does this mean I’m in my room every morning literally dancing while reading the gospel of John? No… but it does mean that I desire to find so much daily joy in the Lord that it overflows into something that is visible to those around me.
But how can I find joy like that on days where it seems impossible? Answer: Look to Jesus.
“He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain. Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,” ISAIAH 53:3-4
“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin.” HEBREWS 4:15
Jesus came down to earth and before our pain and suffering. He experienced humanity. He knows what it feels like to mourn, to weep, to grieve. He experienced ultimate suffering, and yet Jesus was a man of UNSHAKEABLE JOY. We see proof of that through his life.
“Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve” 1 PETER 5:2
Jesus, our shepherd, not only obeyed the will of the Father by dying on the cross, he eagerly bore the burden of our sins. Jesus’s unshakeable joy never departed from him because he knew what was to come; eternal life in heaven seated at the right hand of His father.
“Very truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will grieve, but your grief will turn to joy. A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world. So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.” JOHN 16:20-22
REJOICE! We will see Him again. REJOICE! The God of all creation knows you by name and loves you just as you are. REJOICE! Heaven is next and it is forever.
“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying: ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man, and He will dwell with them. They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them as their God. ‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.’ And the One seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I make all things new.’ Then He said, ‘Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.’” REVELATION 21:3-4
When it becomes more difficult to wake up to your alarm in the mornings, when walking to class begins to feel like a burden, or when life just seems to be throwing you curveballs left and right, fix your eyes on the one who is holding you in His hand. Clothe yourself with unshakeable joy, and people will notice. They will want what you have, and you will have more opportunities to share the best news there is.
The gift of eternal life has been given to all those who believe. He will dwell with us. He will wipe away our tears. There will be no more death, no more pain, no more grief, no more shame.
Okay, but seriously. Doesn’t that just make you want to get up, jump around and shout with joy?! That’s delighting in the Lord, that is putting on unshakeable joy, that is dancing with Jesus.
Sophia is a Public Relations major. She is a watty college intern and is involved in the Kempf tribe! She also went to Boston with Watty this past summer and so excited to keep on serving the church!
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