When I woke up Saturday morning, these words were playing in my mind. Joy unspeakable. The song, well, really these words from the song, continued to play through my mind as I busied myself with housecleaning. You know those Saturday morning chores we all love to do (wink, wink). As I moved through my cleaning routine these words spoke life to my soul.

Last week we discussed that joy is coming and dawn is on the horizon when we are in the middle of the dark seasons of our soul. Although the length of day and night changes with the seasons, day time is guaranteed. Now the Holy Spirit is speaking to me about joy unspeakable and I sensed the two were connected. Here’s the truth friend, do I, we, have joy unspeakable as we are dealing with the dirt and grim of life?

In the middle of stressful days do I have joy unspeakable? When life is filled with uncertainty, is abundant joy bubbling forth out of me? When my day is filled with one disappointment after another is joy seen in me or irritation? When I feel I’m being pulled in many different directions at once, who and what is my family experiencing through my actions and words?

Joy unspeakable.

I want joy unspeakable to be seen in me, but first I need to realize joy, true joy, isn’t an emotion. What? That’s right, true joy comes only through Jesus. 1 Peter 1:8, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; though not seeing him now, you believe in him, and you rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy.” Inexpressible and glorious joy. In other translation, this reads as joy unspeakable.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, is teaching on learning to overcome, to persevere despite our suffering, brokenness, trials, and persecution through the book of 1 Peter. Here are some points Peter reminds us of in chapter 1:

Rejoice even though for a little while we suffer various trials.
Suffering serves a purpose in our lives.
Our suffering is part of the refining process, just as gold is refined in the fire.
Though we haven’t seen Christ with our eyes, we love him.
Even though we don’t see him, we believe in him.
We rejoice because of our faith and salvation in Christ.

Did you notice what wasn’t there about our joy? Joy is not about being happy because everything is going well. Joy is found in and through Christ alone. Let us continue to focus on who Christ is and who we are in him. May Jesus be who we find our joy and strength in.

Oh, and as we are dealing with the dirt and grim of life, Jesus may your joy unspeakable be seen in and through us!

I would love to hear from you, my friend! Be sure to comment below and visit me on my social media pages as well ❤️.

Blessings,