Jesus is our joy catcher. We are transformed as Jesus shines His light and love into the shadows of our wounds.
There was a time when I lived with depression. On the inside, I was breaking and spilling onto the pages of my journals. But God pursued and wooed, calling me to draw near, making me new and changing my life forever. My disheartened wanderings transformed into Spirit-inspired inspirations, pointing to, and glorifying my love for Jesus. I am so grateful to God for taking me from joylessness to joy!
Transforming Our Shadows
Questions we can ask – are we allowing Jesus to be our joy catcher? Do we love and obey God as He asks? Is it time to pull out the deep roots of sin, negative emotions, attitudes, and behaviors?
Love and Joy Perfected
9 “As the Father loved Me, I also have loved you; abide in My love. 10 If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. 11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full. 12 This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.” John 15:9-12 KJV
Oh, Father, Your Word lives and grows within producing forever joy increasing and increasing. Then lovely devotion to God’s Word, in love with the One who loves, as His Word washes over and through flourishing eternal joy. Oneness with our Heavenly Father.
The One who is Love, who is All, invites us to love, to abide in Him. “These things I have spoken to you” for “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinedresser.” (John 15:1) And so, leap to pure oneness, love, and joy being the branch with the Vine.
As we are invited to the greatest love ever – wouldn’t we, shouldn’t we, want to do as God asks, to abide in His love, to “Keep My Commandments,” and to bear His fruit. (Galatians 5:22-23) Oh, Holy heavenly Father Yes! Love enwrapped arms from Father to the Son to us, His beloved. And the joy of Jesus remains in us – our joy is now full. Be in divine joy loving one another as God loves us.
Because Jesus is our joy catcher, root puller, encouragement wrangler, peace deliver, and tear wiper, we can be assured of His joy in our lives. For Jesus redeems and transforms, shining His light and love into the shadows of our wounds.
Drawing near –
Will you abide with our Joy Catcher? Draw near to the One who pursues and woos? Whether you struggle with emotions, depression, the fire of a trial, or going through a challenging new season, know that God is with you, alongside every dip, move, change, and tear. That you are given the promise of Jesus’ joy.
Think of the beauty of an eternally joyful life even in the rough spots, the lonely valley, or the waiting. Here and now achieving joy in Jesus through abiding in His love, turning our lives and burdens over to the One who carries. As God loves, love, and obey His commandments, and live full of glorious joy.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 [a]gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NKJV
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I’m so thankful He is a God of love who pursues us, Deborah! This is a beautiful testimony, “God pursued and wooed, calling me to draw near, making me new and changing my life forever.” The phrase ‘joy catcher’ is great and I appreciate, “Jesus is our joy catcher, root puller, encouragement wrangler, peace deliverer, and tear wiper, we can be assured of His joy in our lives.”
Lisa, thank you, yes, I am grateful too. Thank you for reading and your encouragement.
That our joy might be full…oh how we need to abide in Him and be filled with His joy.
Beautiful, as usual 🙂 I also love the fact that we have a part to play – taking responsibility by obeying.
Well written, Deborah!
Debby, thank you – you are so kind. Blessings to you.