THE RESTORATIVE POWER OF JOY

“Therefore with JOY you will draw water from the wells of salvation” – Isaiah 12:3

GOD wants us to enjoy the RESTORATIVE POWER of JOY: “Therefore with JOY you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isa.12:3). It is by the instrumentality of Joy that we process and possess the best of the blessings of Salvation! God wants to restore to us all that has been stolen, broken, or missing from our lives, but we must hold on to Joy and Faith for this to become real. His Will for us is wholeness in every area. In this season of Joy, the thief must repay sevenfold for all that he has stolen (Pro.6:30-31). Joy is the key to our restoration and breakthrough, both of which we take possession of by faith. God equates joy with strength: “for the Joy of the Lord is your Strength” (Neh.8:10b). It takes joy to ignite faith, and when joy is released, restoration is the result.

The Joy of the Lord carries restorative power to change lives. Nehemiah told the people not to mourn or weep, but to eat and drink. He said not to be sorry, because the joy of the Lord was their strength. The people obeyed because they understood the message (Neh. 8:9-12). When situations arise that make us feel weak, joy strengthens us. Joy often precedes restoration: “Fear not, O land; be glad and rejoice, for the LORD has done marvellous things!...“Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the LORD your God; for He has given you the former rain faithfully, and He will cause the rain to come down for you – the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month…So I will RESTORE to you the years …My people shall never be put to shame” (Joel 2:21-26).

When circumstances present the opportunity to fear, we must rejoice instead. Believing that God will do marvellous things determines whether or not we can rejoice. And when Joy shows up, positive manifestations also show up: “The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, and the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil” (Joel 2:24). Joy attracts the fullness and the overflow of blessings. The fulfilment of God’s promises starts with a choice to rejoice and decision to be glad. But, joy is superior to happiness. Happiness is based on “happenings” – our condition. Joy is based on what we know – revelation – of the reality of our redemption. That’s why David prayed earnestly: “Restore to me the JOY of Your salvation, and uphold me with Your generous Spirit” (Psa. 51:12).

Positive turnaround in our lives is dependent on the Joy of the Lord. Irrespective of condition or context, a Christian should never be without joy: “Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the field, and there is no herd in the stalls – yet I will REJOICE in the LORD, I WILL JOY in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; he will make my feet like deer’s feet…” (Hab. 3:17-19). Here again, we see the link between Joy and Strength! The situation does not have to be “right” for us to rejoice. When we rejoice, God restores. Faith is required to take possession of all grace has made available, but a fuse is needed to ignite the dynamite. Joy is the fuse to our faith.

It is tempting to murmur and complain, but this is a waste of time. Joy escorts us into the Rest of Faith and delivers us from daily stress, cares, and worries. We do not “count it all joy” when we are comfortable and everything is perfect, but rather when we are tested and tried (Jam.1:2-4). Joy comes from what we know about the finished works of Jesus – by which we access deliverance, healing, and prosperity. As Christians, rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and giving thanks in everything are secrets to restoration (1The.5:16-18). Rejoicing is significant to restoration: “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say rejoice!” (Phil4:4).