The Joy Refuge | The Story of Joy
Listening to The Story Joy Wants to Tell
Many stories guide our lives. But often our stories are misguided. We can find ourselves woven into undesirable storylines and plot twists. For example, a common story is the performance story. If you grew up in a family or culture where performance and achievements are highly regarded, you may have internalized a story that you are only valuable if you excel and accomplish many things with your life.
Imagine a father who drives his son to school in a luxury car. As his son grabs his backpack and scoots out of the car, the father says without fail, “Be exceptional.” The tone is always positive. He intends to encourage his son. Days accumulate into years as his child internalizes this message. But what is the story?
The father wants more than a son who does well in life. He wants his child to be comparatively better than the rest. He wants him to stand head tall above his peers. This is a performance story. It has the capacity to motivate people to accomplish great things. It also has the strength to crush self-worth. What happens if you aren’t exceptional? Or when you realize there is someone more exceptional than you? Or if you fail? Even if these messages were never his intent, the father wrote a performance story for his son.1
Similarly, we need to pay attention to the story we tell about joy. Some of the stories told about joy can make joy feel out of reach. They’re just another version of a performance story: live your best life, do all you can to choose joy. But this kind of story about joy often over-promises (i.e. you can be joyful non-stop, can’t-stop, won’t stop) and under-delivers (because you still find yourself longing for joy more often than experiencing joy).
But what if the story joy wants to tell isn’t about performance?
What joy’s true story is about an extravagant gift?
After all, the story we live by is the truest story of the universe. We live in the story of Jesus Christ—and his story is good news of great joy. Sometimes, we accidentally downplay the joy that undergirds this story. So, it’s helpful to revisit the story of the gospel and let Joy tell her account of it. Because stories also cultivate our emotions. When we have ears to hear how joy tells the gospel story, we shouldn’t be surprised that our hearts will be apprehended by joy afresh, once more, or yet again.
The Story of Joy, Revealed
Knowing joy as a refuge begins as we listen to the story that joy tells. Joy sings the anthem that creation is good, good, very good—and even proclaims to us good news of great joy. By the end of the week, you’ll know the story of joy as revealed in the life of our Triune God: the Father, Son, and Spirit.
We’ll keep working our way through Longing for Joy: An Invitation into the Goodness and Beauty of Life. This week we move onto Part 2: The Story of Joy.
Monday → Chapter 7: The Father
Tuesday → Chapter 8: The Son
Wednesday → Chapter 9: Crucified and Chapter 10: Resurrected
Thursday → Chapter 11: The Spirit
Once again, you can pace yourself however you want. But try to have finished the reading plan by 5:30pm PDT on Thursday October 10th for our Virtual Q&A on Zoom. If you haven’t already, register for the Q&A. A reminder will be sent on Thursday morning too.
… and if you missed last week’s Q&A, no worries! You can catch the conversation here.
Before you pick up the book: Grab a pen, or open a note on your phone. Here’s something to ponder:
Close your eyes. Imagine, if you can, the face of God. What expression do you see on God’s face?
Share your thoughts below. I really would love to hear from you and get a conversation going before our Q&A.
Grace and peace to you this week!
Adapted from Rhythms for Life: Spiritual Practices for Who God Made You to Be, Chapter: Identity
What expression do I see on God's face? I see an expression of love, of compassion, of pride, of care for His children. But I can also see an expression of someone who wants us to follow His promptings but is willing to give us the free will to choose otherwise. I guess I would call it an expression of concern.
🙌🙌😂