Joyful walk always?

Many believers state that their early Christian walk was very joyful, but as they began to grow in the Lord some of that joy was replaced by a sober attitude very close to sadness or mourning.
What was your experience?

Yes... people used to complain that I was too happy. They percieved it as fake, but I was honestly hyperactive and full of praise then. Not sure what happened... maybe just aging.

The joy of the Lord is my strength.

The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost!

It is like your first love, you are so anxious to please at first. then things happen and your zeal starts to wand, but Paul called us back to our first love when he said remember how it was in the beginning. Our walk with Christ should always be a joyful one, but heartache and disappointments break us down sometimes. Yet with one prayer that rings true in the heart we can still have that love relationship again.

I must say that I feel a lot more level now -- content and trusting, not tossed with circumstances.

Gee...
nobody is answering the poll...

Come on!

I voted:

I did not really experience "joy" when I got saved... but joy has grown ever since.

There are hiccups, bumps in the road, but the general trend is growth.
Not necessarily dizzing excitement and delight at all levels, but deep, abiding "joy in the Lord."

Even in hard times, it's still there below the surface. I really lost sight of it a few times over the winter, when I was depressed, but it really wasn't gone, and it would usually stir whenever I came into the presence of Christians and was loved back towards life.

I read this somewhere:

"Joy is peace dancing,
Peace is joy resting."

I think that fits very well.

Joy is something that is often linked to happiness. Happiness, though, is circumstantial. You may be happy because you got a raise at work. Happiness can be fleeting. You were happy that you got the ice cream, but not anymore since it fell onto the ground.

Joy is different than that. It is something that really can only come from God. It is a peace and contentment with life, despite the circumstances. The past three years of my life has been filled with struggles, as my wife has had several surgeries and constant health issues. If I were to look at the circumstances, I would not be happy. Instead, I look to the Lord and am filled with His joy.

The "struggle" with joy is a daily battle. It isn't something that always happens for me. It is something that I have to remind myself of, and go to God to ask for help with. Sometimes I forget, and wind up in a darkness that the lack of joy leaves. Other times I have that joy, and can't help but worship the Lord.

I voted

I started out full of joy and it has been getting better all the time!.

Click to expand...

Not because life has been perfect but because I don't see the trials that I have seen since then as things that ultimately take my joy. Yes, sure they make me saddened and I do feel a sense of mourning but when those are over, I find that my ability to fully appreciate and feel joy has increased. I can really say I know what it is to be joyful...because I know what it's like to not be joyful.

I TRUST that even though it gets tough the joy of the Lord really is my strength. I was told my smile would be used as a blessing; I'm told that I always smile...I love to laugh and once I can still smile and laugh I still have joy. Even in the midst of trouble I have moments when I smile with tears streaming down my face and I know it'll be ok.

As I grow, I know the trials will grow too so I am believing the Lord that His joy within me will grow to suit. I expect that and I can only see the joy increasing.

DreamerOfDreams said:

Gee...
nobody is answering the poll...

Come on!

Click to expand...

Well not sure which to choose for me:

I don't remember how I felt when I accepted Jesus - was 13 years ago at a crusade...I imagine I cried at that time...
but what I remember is my hunger for God and knowing him was great so then I drew closer to God and read His word eagerly until I finished school - which was a christian/missionary boarding school so things were pretty easy for me and comfortable being in a christian environment....but then right after school....i stepped out into the real world and went to a secular university and was "ok" with my faith in God for the first year after that things started slipping and then I changed university again and then I started doing stupid things and God was never really in the picture (or atleast i didnt care to look) for about 4 years and my bible was collecting dust.
Then after I finished university....I moved to Toronto for a job and was living on my own again...and slowly started attending church again and this is where in the last 2 years that God by his IMMENSE grace and mercy has been speaking to me and put a new heart in me for him and the things of him...he has put his holy spirit in me and I have lost all interest in the things i enjoyed before and can't seem to see anything without wondering how God looks at it....and right now...I am pretty joyful in God and in the knowledge of him and his love and his presence....but at the same time I am also burdened for people who do not have the same hope I have...i know when things in my life dont look good...i know I can still look to Gods promises and stand on them even then I know whatever happens in my life - it is his will for me and so i have nothing to fear or worry and that I have eternal life with him...so nothing concerns me here...so yeah..pretty joyous...and by the looks of it...i reckon by Gods mercy and grace I will remain joyful till my end on this earth....but wish other folks who dont know what I know...would also know

Joy is different from happiness.

Happiness depends on circumstances but joy is from Jesus Christ. No-one can take this joy away from you!

My experience since ive been saved has been a up and down one up to now(*eyebrows make a funny shape eyes look puzzeled* do you think maybe god is trying to tell me something ?). But thorough it all i can say God has not let me down. Wowy ! Truly lots of excitement comes with being a christian thats for sure.

I said up and down, but I have to say that the most dangerous times not only spiritually but physically and mentally are those times I go through life without the joy of the Lord. I would like to say that I will never again be low on the joy meter again... and I pray God will help me with this... As I look back though, it seams that usually when the joy has left me, it actually could be said that I allowed someone to steal that joy. Through series of events, and situations... What a sad testimoney huh... but I find it is not uncommon among others I know. I can tell you this, it is a lot harder to get it back than it is to keep it, I am there now, some days are hard other not so bad... it is painfully obvious that the enemy does not want me to have that joy!

Dynaric

I've not voted because after I was baptized life stank, Although some would disagree, I do believe after baptizim I then spent my 40 days and nights in the desert being tempted.

If I did vote I would have to say the up and down option.