TRUE Joy: Uncovering the Secrets of Joy on the Journey of Life
by Talasi Guerra
“I’ve got peace like a river
I’ve got love like an ocean
I’ve got joy like a fountain in my soul.
”If you grew up in the church like me, you might recognize these lyrics from your childhood. This simple tune was a staple at my small-town Sunday School singalongs, and I probably had it memorized before I even knew how to read. But sadly, instead of experiencing the fountain of joy that I so often sang about, my life told a different story. In my life, joy never felt anything like a fountain.
Today, my home in British Columbia backs onto a quaint, little pond that serves as a peaceful haven of tranquility for the neighborhood. One of my favorite features of this picturesque scene is the fountain that ceaselessly flows in the middle of the pond. Day and night, rain or shine, this fountain pours out continual streams of water, bringing beauty to the surroundings and life to the creatures that reside here.
Fountains are a picture of abundance. They represent a constant overflow of goodness and blessing. But quite frankly, this has rarely ever been characteristic of my experience with joy.
Fountains are a picture of abundance
The idea that I could experience life-giving, unbridled joy was never even a possibility in my mind. Joy was nothing like a fountain that welled up within me and poured out to the world around me. As someone who has battled mental illness for most of my life, the pursuit of joy has always felt much more like an arduous climb up a steep, unforgiving mountain.
And I don’t think I’m alone in this sentiment. Our world today is characterized by stress, worry, depression, and fear. We lose hope as we continually find ourselves stuck in the most impossible situations on the mountain of life, wondering how we can carry on through such pain and suffering.
Instead of spending our lives searching for some mystical fountain of joy, it’s time to step into God’s story and discover what it means to live with intentional joy in the journey.
But what if we’re missing something foundational when it comes to understanding the joy that God created us to experience? What if there is a critical connection between joy and suffering that can revolutionize this gruelling journey up the mountain of life?
The biblical narrative culminates in joy that is very much like a fountain as we reach our ultimate goal and glory in heaven. Psalm 16:11 refers to the “fullness of joy” that can be found in the presence of God and reminds us that we will experience “pleasures forevermore” at his right hand. But if we’re ever going to make it to the finish line of glory with a sense of fulfillment and our faith intact, it is imperative that we uncover the secrets of joy in the heavenward journey.
An honest reading of the Bible reveals that joy is both a response and a responsibility for those who follow God. With that in mind, I recently set out to explore what it looks like to choose joy in the midst of the day-to-day struggles and anxieties of life. The results were life-changing.
An honest reading of the Bible reveals that joy is both a response and a responsibility for those who follow God
In my upcoming book, Joy Like a Mountain: Unleash the Power of Biblical Joy on the Journey of Life believers who sense an incongruence between the pain of their lived reality and the ecstasy of their promised salvation are invited to uncover the radical secrets of biblical joy as they navigate life’s challenges. If you have ever found that choosing joy feels a little bit like climbing an impossible mountain, this book is for you. I believe that it’s time to start singing a different tune. Instead of spending our lives searching for some mystical fountain of joy, it’s time to step into God’s story and discover what it means to live with intentional joy in the journey.
It’s time to reclaim the lives we were created to live.
It’s time for a true joy revolution.
It’s time to embrace joy like a mountain.
Talasi Guerra is a Christian communicator who is passionate about infusing Jesus into her everyday life and empowering others to do the same. Author of Joy Like a Mountain releasing September 27th, 2020 and The 7-Day Joy Challenge, she lives to communicate biblical principles in relevant ways that inspire, challenge, and awaken others to live out their God-given purpose. Connect with Talasi here: https://www.talasiguerra.com/ Instagram/Twitter:@talasiguerra Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/talasiguerra/