Joy (Keep Your Eyes Open)

"There is fear in His mercy." I wrote these words nearly a year ago. They still ring true for me today. When I think about the awesome mercy that God has on me, His grace toward me--the only response is to stand in awe.

Shortly after that, God began to teach me about joy. He brought Nehemiah 8:10 to my attention and said "Learn my joy for there you will find strength." I wrote about it here.

I really don't know what else to add to that. I've been talking about a lot of abstract stuff--of running into the darkness and chasing after fireflies and experiencing God's grace. I want to leave you with something concrete and I can't think of anything better than this post I wrote a year ago. Sukkot 2011 was absolutely full of "fireflies."

I think God's joy is found everywhere in the little things. But we have to be open to receive it. So, as we move out of Yom Kippur and into Sukkot, keep you eyes open. Do not fear the darkness. His light and His joy is there. Just keep your eyes open.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.  -- Hebrews 12:1-2

Return to "Days of Awe"