Joy Is Meant To Be A Part Of Our Walk With God
Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I will say, Rejoice.
- Philippians 4:4
Dear Church Family,
Let’s talk about joy!
On August 1, 2015, I went to see the progressive rock band Rush perform what would become their final concert as a trio. Neil Peart, arguably the best prog rock drummer in history, was ready to retire due to the physical toll and a desire to be with his family, and his bandmates agreed. Sadly, Neil passed away in 2020. When that happened, Rush fans—who are very dedicated—understood that to be the end of the era.
However, just last year, they announced that they would once again go on tour. Fans, including myself, were overjoyed. They had chosen a drummer who would honor Neil’s memory, and with the blessing of his family, they launched the tour last Sunday at The Forum where they had played their final show.
It was a truly a night of joy. You could see it in the band members faces as they played music together again after so many years. You could hear the joy as fans welcomed their new drummer into the family and honored Neil’s music through touching tributes.
Best of all, the people who were there became a family that night. It didn’t matter who you were sitting next to, everyone talked to one another. We all had shared the reality that this would never happen again, and yet there we were. Everyone was family.
I know it might sound like this is just another concert. But it really was one of the most joyful moments I’ve experienced in a while, and that joy has continued throughout the week. (If you want a taste of what I’m talking about, just look up “Rush reunion reaction” on YouTube.)
What does this have to do with our faith journey? I think we sometimes forget that joy is meant to be a part of our walk with God. The world is full of things that easily squash our joy, but the power of joy can reshape how we experience life. Tradition has understood that Paul’s words above to be written while he is in prison. He’s not in a joyful place. His mission has been stopped for a time, and yet, he is saying, “Rejoice.”
When we lean into joy, even for a moment, it can shift our perspective on all kinds of things. It can shake us out of the doldrums for a moment and remind us even in a hard world there are still joyful moments.
Joy might be a conversation with a friend that catches you off guard with laughter. Or something as simple as remembering to look up at the sunset — I often forget to glance out my office window, but when I do, it stops me every time. Even a quiet moment of gratitude for a good meal or an unexpected note can bring forth joy.
When we lean into joy, we are reminded of God’s goodness and love for us. I’ve been leaning into joy all week, and it has changed my outlook. So, my invitation for you today is to keep your eyes open for joy—even a tiny bit. And when you find it, lean in. Let it fill you for the moment and fuel your heart.
With God’s Love,
Pastor Karl
