We look for evidence of God’s kingdom in our lives—answered prayers, supernatural intervention, the fullness and abundance of God’s shalom—and it’s beautiful when it comes. But if we’re looking for those things when the climate in our hearts is frustration, discouragement, or bitterness, we may have to wait a long time.
That’s because joy is the climate of God’s kingdom. It’s like the fertile soil in which seeds of faith are planted and grow. When we try to sow seeds of faith onto the hard ground of internal restlessness and uncertainty, God may water and cultivate them in his mercy. But usually we don’t see much fruitfulness in such a rugged environment. Joy, on the other hand, is rich soil for all kingdom fruit.
Before asking, seeking, and knocking on the door of God’s blessings, pursue joy and choose to live in it. Let your faith be rooted in that rich soil, and then watch how your life grows. C. S. Lewis called joy “the serious business of heaven,” and it’s true. It’s room temperature in the kingdom environment. Find a way to live in it, regardless of outward circumstances, and all of life will flourish.
