When Did You Last Allow God To Fill Your Heart With Joy?

When was the last time you lifted up your heart to God in joy? When did you last allow Him to fill your heart with happiness?

Let us remember that our Christian life is not only about sorrow and tribulations. It is not only about denials, dryness and fasts.

Even the Bible reminds us that there are days when we are allowed to celebrate in great jubilation:

“Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”- Nehemiah 8:10 (NRSVCE)

Yes, we are allowed even to eat the fat and drink that wine!

We are told not always to grieve lest we forget that our joy in God is our strength.

Mother Teresa has this very profound quote related to the importance of joy in our Christian life:

“Joy is strength- Joy is love – Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. She gives most who gives with Joy.”

She also said:

“Joy must be one of the pivots of our life. It is the token of a generous personality. Sometimes it is also a mantle that clothes a life of sacrifice and self-giving. A person who has this gift often reaches high summits. He or she is like sun in a community.”

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could be like the sun shining with the joy of God to the people around us?

Pope Benedict XVI told us that the world needs that kind of joy so much.

“The loss of joy does not make the world better – and, conversely, refusing joy for the sake of suffering does not help those who suffer. The contrary is true. The world needs people who discover the good, who rejoice in it and thereby derive the impetus and courage to do good.”

When our Blessed Mother visited St. Elizabeth, she brought joy along with her. I cannot read nor listen to the Magnificat without being reminded of that joy!

“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;
my spirit rejoices in God my savior.
For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
– Luke 1:46-49 (NABRE)

Even in times of affliction, we can still save a portion of joy in our hearts, a joy that refuses to totally fade away.

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer.” – Romans 12:12 (NRSVCE)

The saints were able to endure great suffering because they never lost that joy. A joy embedded in the deepest part of their being.

God does not only want to share our sorrows. He also wants to share our joys! And one day, Jesus assures those who believe, that every tear will be wiped away and only joy will remain.

Let us hold fast to this joy, the joy that reminds us of the victory of our Savior.

One day in heaven, that joy shall be forevermore.

“A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you.” – John 16:21-22 (DRA)

Jocelyn Soriano is the author of To Love an Invisible God. “Is it really possible to love a God we cannot even see?”