Let's Dedicate Ourselves to Joy

Last year around this time, God told me that I was going to enter into a “Season of Great Joy.” This was hard to believe since in that moment I was struggling with some eye issues that scared me, along with some other day-to-day issues that combined began to let depression creep in. I then went to photograph a wedding which didn’t help my struggle since we arrived to find that the bride chose to wear a black wedding dress. Knowing that God had symbolically spoken about His own Bride, the Church, through past weddings that we had photographed, I knew God had something to say. What came to my mind first was the phrase “Displaced Joy.” I didn’t understand this at first until a verse then came strongly to my mind. It was Nehemiah 8:10b which says, “Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” I then thought about something that my pastor says a lot. He often asks the question, “Where does your joy come from?” He then points out that true joy should not come from external circumstances. With that thought, my mind then began to flood with all the things that I had been trying to find my joy from, but what God heavily laid on my heart is that none of that really matters. Our joy should not, and will not, truly stem from those things. Our joy and strength come from the Lord, period.

I then asked God again what He wanted me to learn from this experience at this wedding and He said, “Susan, My Bride is dying. The joy of the Lord is to be My people’s strength but right now they have displaced joy. True joy and strength are found in Me, nothing else, especially circumstances. The future will only be bright and joyful if eyes focus on Me.”

What God then brought to my mind was Peter walking on the water, along with the phrase, “He was dying.” Peter was actually dying. He was in the process of sinking and drowning because he took his eyes off Jesus. He took His eyes off Jesus because of the wind and the waves that crashed around him, because of the distractions and the chaos, the fear, those external circumstances.

Now a year later, I can testify that I truly have been having a “Season of Great Joy,” just as God said I would. Has it been because I have had perfect health? No. Has it been because I have been disciplined and have used my time wisely? No. Is it because I made perfect decisions? No. In fact, once again as I reflect upon my year, I feel like I have again failed in these areas and am in desperate need yet again of REDEDICATION, of renewal. And, believe me, I DO. However, there is something different this time around, despite all of this. This time I have the Joy of the Lord! He has made sure of it and it has primarily come because I have kept my eyes on Jesus. He made a way for that, for even this was not of my own doing or discipline. He is a merciful God.  

This year, God made a way for me to sit in a special place at a museum multiple times. It has now become my favorite spot to sit. This spot allows you to look upon a scene that reflects the moment of Christ’s birth. As I have sat in this place this year, slowing way down to focus on Jesus, He has spoken a lot, mostly about joy. Several times as I have looked at this scene, God has given me visions, visions of joy. I have often seen the word “Joy” really big above this scene with beams of light streaming from it. My latest visit, about a week ago, was no different. Once again, I saw the word “Joy,” but this time with it, I saw Jesus come and sit next to me. His faced beamed at me as He sat beside me, putting His arm around me. I then envisioned the word “Joy” come out of His heart and go into mine. He then spoke and I wrote these words down, words I believe that God wanted me to share with you too. Once again having looked back on this year’s mistakes and feeling like I have failed yet again, these words meant so much to me and I hope that they will mean a lot to you as well.

For Jesus said:

Take My joy and let it complete you. All I have is yours. My joy is your joy. I AM the True source of ALL joy. Believe. Believe and be blessed. Receive My joy, My hope, My peace, and My love. I offer them freely, always.

REJOICE, for I make ALL things new. I MAKE ALL THINGS NEW - EVERYTHING. Think you’ve made wrong decisions in the past? FORGIVEN. REDEEMABLE. I make ALL things new. Spent money you should not have spent? Forgiven. Redeemable. I AM your Redeemer, now and always. Failed to believe with consistency and therefore exercise discipline? Forgiven. Already redeemed. Failed to make wise health choices? I make ALL things new. I have and WILL make you new. Slate wiped clean. My mercies are new every morning for I AM Love. I love you with an everlasting love. Believe. You will arrive at my predestined destination for you DESPITE wrong choices, for I AM FAITHFUL and My plans for you WILL prevail and come about. If ever there was a time to believe THE TIME IS NOW. NOW. Shine My love. Shine My hope. Shine My peace and be a bridge for My joy. Joy. My joy is your joy. I am in you, therefore BE joy. My joy is yours. It is your strength and it WILL supersede everything - always.

We serve a covenant God, that will not leave us discouraged and feeling like failures, like a bride that deserves to wear black. For because of Christ’s blood, He will always be there to renew and restore us, to rekindle our light, to realign us to His perfect will. He was born for this purpose. And we are now His hands and feet and voice and have work to do, being a bridge to a hurting world that needs His Light. Thank You Lord for Your faithfulness and for Your TRUE JOY, a free gift to us all.

The Feast of Dedication. or Hanukkah, starts on Christmas this year, December 25th. So let’s pray: Lord be born in me. Make my heart Your Bethlehem Ephrathah (Micah 5:2). May I shine Your Light, Your Love, and Joy, for the world to see. I rededicate myself to You Jesus, the Light of the world. Amen and amen.