we can still fly with a broken wing

I have been greatly impressed to work on improving my joy.  Not just to have some, but to be ever able to have joy in the midst of any circumstance. I am not talking about happiness, but true joy that only comes from the Father. John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full."  This verse says that joy should remain and be full or complete.  Joy from God should not leave us the instant something goes wrong.  Joy is also listed as part of the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22.  As a child of God, the fruit we bare should have an attribute of joy.   I can say and feel a bit ashamed that there are times that circumstances affect my joy and may actually cause me to lose it all together.  I have to go back to the Father and ask and receive joy once again just as Jesus spoke commanded in John 16:24. Joy from the Father should remain constant, not ebb and wane as the tide when circumstances come.

In John 16:22 Jesus spoke to his disciples Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you. Then in Acts we read that the Holy Spirit filled the disciples and joy came Acts 13:52. Nothing should take our joy. Not loss, not pain, not disappointment, not trouble, not terrible reports. Nothing!

I recently went to an aquarium which had a butterfly habitat.  There was a beautiful orange butterfly sitting on pink flowers.  As I got close, I realized his wing was damaged and ripped. I thought how sad that was and did not think he could fly. Suddenly, the butterfly took flight and began to float around the habitat in search of another place to land.  This injury that caused much damage did not inhibit his flight or ability to soar as he was purposed to do.

butterfly with a damaged wing can still fly

How many times do we allow a negative circumstance to steal our joy and damage the work already accomplished by God in our lives?  How many times have we had our "wings clipped" and felt we had lost our ability to soar?  Have we allowed things to cause us to lose our purpose that God intended?

I am sure I forget Psalms 16:11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.  And Psalms 27:6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.   When we have God's presence in us, we can have joy that cannot be broken or destroyed.  We have joy that will bubble forth even when trouble comes our way. We can have joy that is complete and full in face of attack and negative events. We can still bring forth praise of God, our Savior. 

I know circumstances can damage and break us.  I have read of a missionary family that was attacked and all were gunned down with the exception of the wife and mother.  Yet, thriugh the tears of loss and pain she still sees God's purpose for her life. She has a peace that passes understanding. She still praises God even in the midst of the most hurtful of moments. 

I have gone through moments of loss and pain.  I have had moments of uncertainty and fear. I have had moments of hurt and disappointment. Yet through it all, God has a joy and a peace that is available through each moment. We only have to choose it, let it flow in us, let God pour His spirit over us so we can have that joy only He can give. 

Joy is not about what we have or don't have, it is not from the physical things in this world. Joy, true joy, comes from the Holy Spirit that should be dwelling in us. Romans 14:17 We need to find our joy and maintain our joy through our daily access to the Holy Ghost. We are to daily communicate with our Savior and build that relationship that can only bring us joy and a peace that passes all understanding. Philippians 4:7

Even as our world grows more dangerous and uncertain, or as troubles come our way, we must choose to maintain joy.  We must choose to be joyful. It is our fruit to bare and what God wants and offers to His children. we can still soar full of joy on our broken wings with the help of the Father.  Find your joy from the Father and hold on to it!

Romans 15:13 Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.