Of Revival and Joy

“Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation.” (Ps 85:6-7 AV)

The absence of joy can tell us many things.  It can tell us that someone has lost someone very close to them.  It can tell us a person may be overwhelmed with situations in life.  The absence of joy can suggest someone is anxious about the future.  No joy could also suggest someone is going through deep persecution.  There are many reasons for the absence of joy.  Some, if not most, are not caused by our own limitations.  Most of the time, joy is lost because of influences outside of ourselves.  Yes, some of the time our lack of joy is the result of habitual sin.  Guilt and shame replace the joy of the LORD.  The cause of our lack of joy is not the point this morning.  Rather, the Psalmist’s cause for asking for joy is.  He wants revival.  He wants the nation to live again.  He wants the old days wherein the nation of Israel saw God do great things.  He wants the hand of God to be so evident that even the world takes notice.  He desires the nation to once again realize the depths of God’s grace, the mercy that comes with it, and the end result of salvation from that which robbed them of the joy they lost.  In short, if we want revival, we have to also admit our lives are miserable wrecks caused by ourselves or others that need the mighty hand of God to reverse.  We want to live again.

Whatever the cause of discontentment, anxiety, or depression, the writer feels as though they cannot rejoice in God.  The need for revival and the lack of joy in God go hand in hand.  Hospital visits are part and parcel of the ministry.  Very seldom do you see someone who is equally glad to see you.  More times than not, they tolerate the visit.  When visiting, it is our job to reverse that.  They are not happy campers.  They are in pain.  They are in discomfort.  They have had interruptions all night long.  They have had doctors and nurses ask questions.  Many times, they are the same questions over and again.  All that patient wants is the ease of pain and a good night’s sleep.  When that chaplain or visitor shows up, there is very little joy.  It is not that the patient doesn’t like us.  It is not that they have ceased to love us.  It is merely the trial of their disease is greater than their joy in seeing us.  If we do our jobs right, they are glad we came, but they are also glad when we leave.  I have learned the best thing to do is three things.  First, let them process what is going through their hearts and minds.  Help them to verbalize their situation and the treatment that follows; helping them to see their situation is temporary.  Second, go off-topic and find something that is humorous.  The Bible teaches us that humor goes a long way to healing the body.  One must tread lightly here and pick up cues from the patient as to what is funny at the moment and what is not.  Third, and most importantly, take it to the LORD.  A word of prayer means a great deal.  One does not have to drone on and on.  A simple and quick prayer is usually all that is needed.  Do these three things, and the patient will be glad you came.  You can spread a little bit of joy.  Until that joy is restored, there is no connection between the patient and the minister.  Restore that joy, and there will be a connection.

I think that real, deep-down joy is waning from God’s people.  We are bludgeoned by the constant and subtle attacks of the world.  Life is getting increasingly more difficult.  I just went to the grocer’s store this morning and the shelves are about 25% empty.  Almost no eggs.  Dairy products are only half.  More popular items of common consumption are getting increasingly harder to find.  From the COVID scare to out-of-control inflation, the saints of God are finding it hard to stay atop our game.  Our joy is beginning to slip away.  We celebrate a recent victory but know it is only a matter of time before the victory is turned to a loss.  There is much to be discouraged about.  But if we allow these influences to rob us of our joy, our relationship with the LORD will suffer.  Jesus told His disciples that no man can take their joy.  This means if we lose our joy, it is on us.  We need revival.  Absolutely.  The Psalmist asks for the LORD to revive the nation.  Revival comes from God and not from us.  However, if we are asking for revival, then we should allow revival to happen.  Allow yourself to feel joy amid the great difficulties that face us.  If not, then revival cannot come again.