We can often be found in pursuit of many things in our lives: prosperity, good health, youthfulness, job sucess, relational security, and so many other things. We admit to being in pursuit of the good things in our lives and often feel victim to the negative things in our lives. We believe that if we can pursue enough of the good things in our lives to outweigh the negative then the balance of happiness will be tipped in our favor and our life will take on meaning, and true lasting happiness will be found. However, just as we begin to feel settled and happiness emerges something happens to shake our cup and we realize again happiness is fleeting and circumstantial. So where does that leave us in our pursuits?
Our pursuits are often in vain and result in us feeling disappointed. This is because we are pursuing the wrong things. Is there anything worth pursuing that will leave us with a joy that lasts? That gives us a "pervasive sense of well-being"? There is a book in the Bible titled Isaiah that address the problem of circumstantial happiness and shows us a people group who where promised joy...that's lasting, by a God who saw fit to intervene not only in their circumstances, but in thier hearts. Scholars believe Isaiah 35 was written between 550-540 BC when the people of Isreal where cast out of their homeland. If ever a time for panic was to be it was then. They where faced with exile, anxiety, homelessness, and hopelessness. However, the words of Isaiah 35 are filled with hope, joy, and the promise of peace.
There is no doubt that the Isrealites could see no foreseeable way out of their situation and back into the homeland that they loved but as Isaiah 34 comes to a close this enticement, invitation if you will is presented to them: Isaiah 34:16, "Search the book of the Lord, and see what he will do. He will not miss a single detail. Not one of these birds and animals will be missing, and none will lack a mate, for the Lord has promised this. His Spirit will make it come true." Chapter 35 opens with the same promises...verse 2: "There will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy!...verse 3 With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands and encourage those who have weak knees. Say to those who are afraid, "Be strong and do not fear, for your God is coming..." verse 10 "Those who have been ransomed by the Lord will return to Jerusalem, singing songs of everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be overcome with joy and gladness." What is it that causes the writer of Isaiah to dare believe these words of coming joy? What causes him to pen these promises of everlasting peace and promise?
The writer of Isaiah had found that the key to joy, was the presence of God. The abiding presence that cuts through circumstances, that moves beyond our fears, that seeks to bring light to the darkest of situations. Where God's presence is found, joy begings to come forth. At first drop by tiny drop, then a trickle, to an overwhelming flood. While happiness depends on "hapenstance, joy floods and invades even the darkest corners of our heart." Fredrick Buchner said, "While God created us in and created us for joy and in the long run not all the darkness in the world or in ourselves can keep us from our joy. Whatever else it (it means that we are created in God's image) is that even when we cannot believe, when we feel the most spiritually bankrupt and deserted God's mark is deep within us." And that mark is joy. Deep and everlasting. The "pervasive sense of well being" despite circumstances.
We who walk with the Lord have nothing to fear. Our joy cannot be taken from us because it is a part of us. When we invite the presence of God into our lives, healing and restoration takes place. Depression flees and our circumstances begin to change, because our perspective changes. Our deepest pursuit should become not a pursuit of happiness but a pursuit of the presence of God in our lives. As our pursuits move beyond the pursuit of happiness and to the pursuit of His presence our hearts begin to change.
This season as we celebrate the birth of Christ let us see fit to remember that the promise of our Savior is this: Emmanuel, God with us. Peace on Earth and good-will to men. Inspite of the looming promises of war, a still faltering econonmy, cancer diagnoses, loniliness, and heart-ache: God with us. A God who invites us to: Search the book of the Lord, and see what he will do, then PROMISES He will not miss a single detail.
Jesus, my Lord, thank you that you see the details of my life. You know the circumstances of my heart and you choose to keep your promises to me inspite of them. You know me and are honest with me. You hear my cries and my longings. You did not just save me from punishement on the day of judgement, but you choose a relationship with me. That's all I need to be well. Amen
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