Today’s Holy Nougat can be seen as both a statement of fact and an invitation to action. For some of us, this is our present reality, others are challenged to make this our reality. Whichever it is for us, I pray the result is the same – joyful.
Psalms 33:21 NIV
[21] In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
Rejoicing in the Lord
The joy we experience as God’s chosen is profound. It goes beyond momentary happiness to sit in the bones and strengthens the individual for the journey. As it is written in our hearts, it is imprinted for continued recall when and as often as it’s needed. One could say that it is held in reserve (full to overflowing) for those moments when we are low on joy.
Self-Check
How are our reserves of joy? Do we need topping up?
Digging Deeper
One of the things that has often struck me about rejoicing is the prefix ‘re’. That prefix says whatever follows is not a one time activity. So, our joy is on repeat, which suggests there is an override switch that facilitates our joy, even in the worst circumstances. Our Nougat proposes that trusting in God is that switch.
In the Canticle of the Turning, a lovely hymn based on the Magnificat, the author speaks of the joy in the soul that derives from the day of the Lord’s nativity. It presents a new world order of justice and peace that turns the world around. It affords the poor food and visibility, as well as access to God’s provision in the world that moves to God’s rhythm. Let us be reminded that Mary’s joy in the Lord burned despite acknowledging that fulfilling God’s call would not be easy.
And that’s the reality siblings. Trust in God doesn’t always carry guarantees that all will be easy. Rather, it carries the promise that God never leaves us not forsakes us. One could say this joy is forged in the crucible of trials, emerging – perhaps with a limp – in the sure and certain knowledge that all is well because God is in control. And how well we know that!
As we face the remainder of the year I challenge us to rekindle our joy at every opportunity by trusting God in all circumstances. It implies that we will also be extending this joy in the Lord to others. Shall we accept the challenge as we place our trust in God?
Point to Ponder
For a brief moment, I had a glimpse of a banquet hall finely decorated, laden with the choicest foods, with the entertainment at the ready. However, the guests were absent! In my spirit it was as though allowing life to steal our joy prohibited us from taking our rightful places at the great banquet.
Let’s choose to populate the banquet hall with our contagious rejoicing. Come
Rejoice
All things are ready, and our Lord awaits.
Praise Break
Let’s turn the world around as we rejoice in the Lord our God!
