Geraint Jones
Joined: 11 May 2004
Posts: 187
Location: Cardiff
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 Posted: Thu Mar 03, 2005 10:38 am Post subject: 'Marching Orders' X - How to Have Fulness of Joy |
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| Quote: | X.
HOW TO HAVE FULNESS OF JOY.
I HAD said, at a meeting at Keswick, There is a difference between happiness, and joy. The former depends upon what happens, that is to say, upon circumstances; whereas joy is something too deep and strong, to be disturbed by passing events. St. Paul no doubt had seasons and times of happiness, but he had also a deep joy in his soul, which could not be reached by trials; for he was rejoicing evermore - sorrowful at times, but always rejoicing.
It is said, that only the surface of the sea is moved by the wind, but that the depths are always tranquil, though the waves above rage ever so furiously. I said, "God does not command us to be happy, but to rejoice."
A lady came to me afterwards, and said she was much struck with the difference, as I described it, between happiness and joy. She could not always be happy, because she could not control the circumstances which surrounded her.
"No," I replied, "you are not intended to control these circumstances, any more than you are intended to control the wind, or cause it to blow in the direction you wish. The plan is to be contented, and in everything to give thanks. Be sure God knows best about the wind, and the rain too, and if the weather is unfavourable to you, it may be the very thing for others. God has to do for them, as well as for you."
"But how can I have this joy, this abounding joy, of which you speak?"
I inquired, "Have you given your will to God?"
"Yes," she replied, "I have; I can and do say -
'Take my will, and make it Thine;
It shall be no longer mine.
Take my heart, it is Thine own,
It shall be Thy royal throne.'" "Then," I added, "you can say, My will is the will of my God."
"Ah," she replied, "I wish I could say that!"
I answered, "Why then, you have only half done it, and have given but the smallest half! Giving your will properly, is assenting to take God's. His will is always right, and His will towards you, always for the best."
"Yes, I am sure that is true," she said; "but I cannot say, that I have taken God's will so fully as that."
I answered, "I am not surprised then, that you are unsettled and restless in your mind. Giving your will, means taking God's will for everything; saying, Yes, Lord."
"Ah me," she said with a sigh, "I have not got there yet; I never thought of the difference between happiness and joy. Do you really believe that any person can be so given up to God's will?"
I said, "Most certainly I do, and be taken up with God's will; besides this is the secret of inward joy. Too often people make their joy dependent upon the happy circumstances and privileges under which they live."
I continued, "I knew a lady who was happy in her work, and always bright and cheerful in her home. She was led to go as God's messenger to China, and there she is now, thousands of miles away from her home, and from those she loves. Moreover, she is surrounded by heathen, very few of whom understand her yet; but for all this, she is full of joy, more joyful than ever she was before. Her mother wrote to ask her about this, and to account for being so happy in a far-off land, among strangers, and alone. She answered, 'Thank God, I am not alone. I never felt the Lord's Presence so much, or the Lord Himself so near. This is the secret of my joy, and I account for it by saying, I had too many privileges at home; but out here, I have only my Saviour, and no one else to understand or sympathise with me.' That," I said, "is what I call being in the love of God, and in the fulness of that joy which belongs to His Presence."
"Do you mean me to understand," asked the lady, "that I must go away to China, or Africa, in order to experience that joy?"
"No, indeed," I replied, "far from that; in your present state of mind, you would be most miserable in China. If you are not at rest here, it is not likely you would be any better out there!"
"What, then, can I do?" she said.
I replied, "Give yourself, or as our good friend Mr. Fox says, overbalance yourself, and fall into the arms of God's love. No one else can do this for you, you must do it for yourself."
"Ah! I only wish I knew how," said the lady, with another sigh. "How can this be done?"
I replied, "By your giving yourself entirely to Christ. Ask that His will in this particular respect may be fully done in you."
She said, "But how am I to know that it is His will?"
I answered, "In the first place, by the fact that God has given you the desire; and secondly, that He is showing you there is such a blessing to be had. He says, 'All which thou seest, to thee will I give it.'"
"Yes, b-u-t" -
"No, my friend," I rejoined, "there is no but about it; it is a bonā fide offer made to you, for your acceptance. Accept it with thanks. Abraham took possession of the land of Canaan by building an altar to the Lord, and offering sacrifice, though the Canaanites were still in the land!"
"Yes," she said; "you make it look and sound very easy; but indeed, I do not find it so."
"Ah!" I replied, "as far as that goes, I cannot tell you how difficult, or even impossible, it really is for you to do this of yourself; but be sure all these difficulties will vanish, when you are really in the Lord's hands. If you have a true desire for this abiding joy, tell the Lord so, acknowledge it is from Him, and say, 'Yea, Lord, be it unto me according to Thy will.' I can pray with you, but you must really have this matter settled between God and yourself alone."
The lady left me without saying more, but I afterwards heard that she gave a bright testimony at a subsequent meeting. After this, she was led to offer herself for the Lord's service and work, wherever it pleased Him to send her, whether at home or abroad.
I have not a doubt, if she reads the Life of Faith, but that she will recognise her own story, and may perhaps write either to me or the editor, and say whether she has the joy of the Lord to be her strength - the Presence of the loving Lord to be her stay.
The Lord has laid this command upon all His children: "Rejoice evermore, and in everything give thanks." |
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