This month we have been talking about different ways God has said we can transform our lives and each word has begun with the letters RE. Last week we learned that the single most important thing we can do to strengthen every relationship we have is to REMAIN in Christ. As we remain in Christ, the fruit of God’s spirit grows in us and that fruit (love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control) improve every relationship we have. Two weeks ago we learned how we can be RENEWED in Spirit and Strength so we can make it through the difficult times we face, and the first week we learned how important it is for us to REMEMBER. If we remember how God was with us in the past, we will be able to trust him for what we need today and in all the days to come. In fact, remembering God was so important that God commanded us to remember over and over again.
Another command God gives us over 500 times in scripture is to REJOICE. God calls us to rejoice because joy will transform our lives. Joy can lift us out of depression. Joy can heal relationships. Joy can fuel our vision and passion, and joy can actually make us physically healthier. God calls us to rejoice because God knows it will transform us, so let’s look at how we can find and cultivate joy.
Pastor and author Adam Hamilton has studied the 500 verses on joy and found 4 common places where joy can be found. The first place joy is found is when something good happens. We get a raise at work and we are joyful. We gather for a wedding and it brings us joy. When babies are born and we get to hold them there is great joy. When Penn State finally wins a game we will be filled with joy.
Joy comes when good things happen, but this joy does not last. The raise might make us happy for 12 months but next year we are going to expect another raise. Babies bring joy as long as they are dry and quiet, and weddings are great, but the happiness of the event doesn’t last for the guest and at times it doesn’t last for the couple. This is not something I’m proud of, but it is true, the very first couple I married was divorced in 6 months. The joy of their wedding, which was truly a beautiful event, didn’t last. The second couple I married remained married and it was a good marriage, so I’m not a jinxed pastor. That’s good news for Matt and Kristen who are getting married in a few weeks!
As much as we might like to have something good happen every moment of every day, we know this is not possible, so if we only look for joy in the good things, we will be disappointed, but joy can be found in other places. The second place where we can find joy is when we do something we love. Clearly joy comes when we do things we enjoy. This might be taking a family vacation, going out to dinner, shopping, or the time we spend in a hobby. The joy here comes from doing something that we love, but once again, this joy doesn’t last. The thrill of a vacation goes away on the trip home. The joy of shopping ends when the credit card bill arrives, and when we stop doing what we enjoy - the joy is going. If the joy we feel is only tied into our experiences - it will not sustain us. This joy can not transform us.
The third place joy is found is in the time spent with others, This can be our family and friends, but it can also be when we are connecting with our neighbors and even strangers. Last week we heard how we were created to be in relationship with others. God created man and said he wasn’t good alone so God created woman. In many ways our lives are only good, or complete, or joyful, when we are connecting with others. The fruit of God’s spirit, which includes joy, comes as we remain connected to God and one another - so a key place we find joy is in our relationships with others. While this joy certainly lasts longer, it too can fade.
One of the reasons we are all feeling weary and tired right now is because we are missing the joy that comes from relationships. When families can’t get together, friends can’t socialize, and even work relationships are all socially distanced or held over zoom, we are losing the joy that comes from simply being with others. If you are feeling off because of the limitations of this pandemic, what you might be missing is some joy. The good news is that this joy will return in time, but until then we can make the best out of the situation through phone calls and zoom gatherings. My family will celebrate Thanksgiving at 10:00 AM Thursday when we all sit in front of our computers. Not ideal - but it helps.
Since the joy found in the time we spend with others might be limited right now, let’s focus on the 4th place where we can find joy. Joy comes in being mindful of the good we see around us. Being mindful of the good is also called - Gratitude. There is a direct connection between joy and gratitude. The Apostle Paul says, Be joyful always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all circumstances. Joy comes when we are in a constant relationship with God, and when we give thanks in all circumstances.
Now let’s be clear and understand that we do not give thanks FOR all circumstances. We do not give thanks for covid-19 and the limitations we have to endure. We don’t give thanks for cancer and diabetes and other diseases that break down our bodies. We don’t give thanks for broken relationships, lost jobs, and economic down turns. We do not give thanks FOR all circumstances but we are called to give thanks IN all circumstances, which means being mindful of the good that is around us at all times.
David Stendl-Rast, a Benedictine monk, said, we are not grateful because we are happy, we are happy because we are grateful. Gratitude does change our perspective, it can transform our lives, and the research, the science, backs this up. Gratitude studies from Duke University have shown that people who were asked to keep a gratitude journal, and every day write down something they are grateful for, were less depressed, slept better, and had healthier hearts than those who didn’t. In other words they were physically and emotionally healthier by simply giving thanks.
Robert Emmons, a scientist at UC Davis, has studied gratitude extensively and has come to the same conclusion. His research shows that those who are mindful of all they have and give thanks in every circumstance are 25% happier than those who don’t. All this group did differently from the control groups was to daily write down what they were thankful for. Gratitude brings joy and joy transforms our lives. Gratitude and joy develop healthier children, create better marriages, and make for more vital workplaces. Gratitude truly changes everything and it makes us whole.
We learn a lot about gratitude and its power to transform our lives from Jesus. Luke 17:11-19
Now on his way to Jerusalem, Jesus traveled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!”
When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed.
One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him—and he was a Samaritan.
Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? Has no one returned to give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”
The word for “made you well” is sodzo which means to be saved or complete. The man who returned to Jesus wasn’t just physically healed from the skin disease he had suffered for years, he was now made whole, he was saved and made complete, and it was his gratitude that made the difference. Giving thanks makes a difference. Being mindful of all the good around us fills us with joy and transforms our lives.
We all know this is true, we know gratitude is important and transformational, but too often we just don’t do it. Some people call this the gratitude gap. We know it is important but we fail to do it, so how can we close the gap and be more grateful? One way is to simply keep a gratitude journal, or a daily list of what we are thankful for. Keeping a list not only helps us see all the good that is around us, but in time it opens our eyes so we can see even more. He helps us be mindful - to be aware of all that God has given us. Even in the midst of a pandemic, can we stop and give thanks? Can we be the one who gives thanks? If we can rejoice, our lives will be changed.
Another way to practice gratitude is to say thank you or write a thank you note to those who are often overlooked. A recent study says that one of the least thanked people in our society are TSA workers. No one likes going through the screening process. No one likes standing in long lines, having to remove shoes, belts, and coats before we get on a plane, and no one likes having all our belongings poked through, but TSA agents are there to help keep us safe. How often do we thank them? Who are others that do a hard job but are often overlooked? I can share with you one group in our community who have a difficult job and are not thanked enough - prison guards.
A few years ago I was at a blue and gold banquet for scouts and sat across from a dad who worked as a prison guard. I started asking him questions about what it was like working in the prisons and he was pretty honest about what they have to deal with every day. I was stunned by what they have to endure and the environment in which they work. I was so moved by what he shared with me that the next day I wrote him a thank you note. If you know anyone who works in the prisons - thank them! Their job is difficult.
Right now another group that needs to be thanked are those who work in nursing homes. They are short staffed, many workers are testing positive for covid-19, the residents must be going crazy since they cannot see their families, and families must be frustrated because they can’t see their loved ones. What a hard job they must have each and every day. I was an aid in a nursing home and I can tell you that under the best circumstances it is a physically and emotionally demanding job, and they don’t get paid enough. I can’t imagine what it must be like now. If you know anyone working in the nursing home - say thank you.
Everyone in the healthcare profession needs to be thanked more often right now. Daycare workers need to be thanked more often. Essential workers need to be thanked more often. Right now there are people all around us who need to be thanked for what they are doing. If we will take the time to say thank you and send a note - it will fill us with joy and those we thank. We can’t let the week of thanksgiving be the only time we think about closing the gratitude gap and give thanks. We need to stop and be mindful of all the good that surrounds us and make gratitude an ongoing part of our lives.
Looking back at the 10 lepers who were healed by Jesus, we know that all 10 were grateful. Their lives had been transformed completely. They went from being nobody to somebody. From being outcasts to being able to return home to the love of a family. Their lives had been restored and they were grateful, they just didn’t stop and say thank you. We need to stop and say thank you. In the midst of our busy schedules we need to stop and give thanks. In the midst of sad and disappointing holidays we need to stop and be mindful of the good that is all around. We need to rejoice in every circumstance because joy can change our lives.
Rejoice. Over 500 times God calls us to rejoice and give thanks because gratitude and joy will change us. Gratitude and joy will heal us. Gratitude and joy will make us whole. Give thanks this week and rejoice always. I’ll say it again, Rejoice.
Next Steps
REjoice
God calls us to rejoice because God knows joy will change our lives. This week reflect on these scriptures:
Psalm 100, Psalm 118:21-25, Zephaniah 3:14-17, Philippians 4:4-7, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Joy can be found in:
1. The good things that happen to us. When have you experienced joy because of something good that happened to you? How long did that joy last?
2. Doing things we love. What activities bring you joy? How can you engage in this work more often?
3. Time spent with family and friends. How can you connect with family and friends even through this period of social distancing?
4. Being mindful of all the good around us. This is gratitude.
Read the story of the leper who returned to give thanks to Jesus. Luke 17:11-19.
● What do you think made him stop?
● What made him return to Jesus?
How can you stop and be mindful of all that is around?
How can you practice gratitude?
● Gratitude Journal - keep a daily list of all you are thankful for.
● Gratitude Alarm - set an alarm for the same time every day and when it goes off, stop and give thanks.
● Thank You Notes - Who is often overlooked in our society that you want to thank.
Be Mindful! Make sure you stop this Thursday and thank God for all the good things you see around you.
