MADE TO BE GREAT 8: INSIST ON JOY!

When the work of ministry began, I had the privilege of having a team of three people who showed commitment to the work. At one point, they got into different seasons of life, and two of them were the first to leave. They moved on to other matters in life.

Some weeks later, the only person left also gave me notice of relocation to the city. I was even the one who dropped him off at the park. Now I was alone.

That night, it rained heavily. The weather was quite cool in the morning. I decided to take a walk to the office. I sang with joy. I was doing all I could to lift my spirit. When I opened the church office door, the song ceased. The entire church was flooded.

Several thoughts ran through my mind. The highest of them was an arrow from the devil, “No one wants to stay with you. You are alone. See what a mess the office is now. There is no one to help you”. I was almost soaking it in and sitting down with self-pity. I refused the devil. I refused self-pity. I would not allow the enemy to manipulate the situation. I did what David did:

And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.

1 Samuel 30:6 KJV

I continued to worship. I called for help. We cleaned the mess, and I continued my work for the day. Nothing would stop me!

The devil knows when to attack or when to manipulate situations to make it look like everything has collapsed. If you do not know the devil’s game, you can become the devil’s game. Do not play his silly games with him. Resist the pressure with the force of joy.

Joy is a force that greatness travels with. Paul moved with joy. He said to the Elders at Ephesus:

But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 KJV

When you run out of joy, the race has finished. You may push for a little while, but you will soon lose steam and the momentum will be over. It will be like pulling a running fan from the power source. It will seem to run for a bit but then it will come to a halt.

There is a reason David called it the joy of salvation and not the joy of situation. Situations cannot and must not steal your joy. You have the joy of salvation no matter the situation.

Greatness and great men know that joy is a fuel that keeps vision running. Joy is the fuel we burn so we can fly. It is our “spiritual jet fuel”. That is why you cannot press on when you are depressed. Your body is heavier than your spirit. It seems so hard to face the day. Every oppression that has kept you in sorrow and caused things to slow down and possibly die around you is over today.

Insist on joy.

temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa