Here I am sitting at my desk in the corner of my bedroom Googling “anecdotes about joy” to try and find a fitting opening to this devotion. Something that illustrates joy; defines and differentiates it from happiness. In the middle of my scrolling and skimming, my daughter runs into the room: “You HAVE TO come out to the living room RIGHT NOW! I built the COOLEST tower!”

My children interrupt me approximately 8.4 billion times a day–twice that much if I’m on the phone or in the bathroom. I almost told her to wait — to let me finish what I was doing — but, in that moment, instead of being mad at the interruption, God showed me I didn’t need to look any further for an example of joy.

Kids know joy. They express it wildly and unfettered. They understand how to be fully present and engaged. If you’ve ever been around children, I’m sure you can feel the joy in their exclamation. In today’s passage, Jesus prays for us to have His joy. And a full measure of it! What does that mean and why is it so hard for us?

Why does joy matter?

Joy is not just a suggestion but a command. (Matthew 5:12,

1 Thessalonians 5:16, Philippians 4:4, 1 Peter 4:13) Joy changes your perspective. Joy is a choice we make that directly opposes evil, and there is nothing Satan wants more than to steal it. We must choose to glean and protect that joy.

Where do we find joy?

“I say these things … so that they may have the full measure of my joy ...” Joy is woven through all that God has said and done. We find joy throughout history in His works to care for and connect with His people. We see that he actively grows joy as fruit in our lives. (Galatians 5:22) We find anticipatory joy in what He will do as we read His promises. But upon reading God’s words laced with joy, it is ultimately our choice whether or not to be joyful. Just like accepting the gift of salvation, we choose whether or not to let that joy flow through us.

What is fighting against the joy?

This world is broken. Any parent will quickly remind you what happens five minutes after building the coolest tower: it comes crashing down and the temper tantrum begins. Enter brokenness and sin.

“... the world has hated them ...” The brokenness of this world is in direct opposition to the kingdom of God. And that brokenness extends to everything: our relationships, our bodies, the environment. It seeps into the cracks made by sin and threatens to strangle our joy. We must learn to sort through the broken pieces to find joy. We need to carefully cultivate and protect the intention mindset that finds joy in the brokenness.

“... they are not of the world ...” This world is passing away. We must see and accept it for what it is: temporary. We are aliens here and to forget that is to lose an important perspective on joy. If we focus on the world, we will only glean death. Joy comes from life. From the eternal. Keeping our eyes focused on our true home is essential to holding on to joy. We need to correctly prioritize.

How do we protect joy?

“... not that you take them out of the world ...” Joy doesn’t come from running away. Jesus did not want us to cloister ourselves from the world nor did He want us to embrace it as it is. We are salt and light here to change the world around us. Salt can’t do its job if it stays in the shaker. Light does no good in a box. Protect your joy by allowing it to multiply through the people around you that you touch.

“... protect them from the evil one.” Jesus prayed protection over us and we know God answers this prayer almost verbatim when Paul says in 2 Thessalonians, “... the Lord is faithful. He will establish you and guard you against the evil one.” (3:3) God has equipped us with the armor we need to fight evil. The shield of faith, specifically, protects us from Satan’s flaming arrows. (Ephesians 6:16) Utilize the tools God has given you to shield your joy.

God gives us joy and the tools to protect it but notice how often we “lose” our joy even with God’s promise of protection. This goes back to the choice we make to be joyful. Often, we are our own worst enemy, often partnering with Satan to steal our own joy.

How often do we wallow in the brokenness, focus on the temporal instead of the eternal, shrink back from the challenge or let down our shield? God is holding back the tempter with his mighty hand, but we need to make sure we aren’t doing his bidding for him. Make the choice today. Allow the interruption. Embrace the joy. Marvel at the COOLEST tower. Choose to be joyful.