JOY IN THE HOLLOW

Joy, that blissful state to keep,

is met in a winter hollow,

where tracks lead in, both wide and deep,

by the edge of the firs on landscape steep,

and where I, with wonder, follow.

Over head, the sun is perfect light

on the snowy altered tree,

and the downy bridesmaid’s hearty flight

is joined by grouse in peaceful sight,

where the woods are hushed for me.

You, Maker of my spirit’s smile

by the marriage you impart,

declare a goodness for my while.

With a skip, I’ll go another mile,

having joy within my heart.

The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.

Jeremiah 31:3

JOY IN THE HOLLOW

Down curvy, back country roads, we see homes, stands of evergreens, ponds, deer, barns, horses, lowlands, and hollows. 

And an highway shall be there, and a way,
and it shall be called The way of holiness;
the unclean shall not pass over it;
but it shall be for those:
the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast
shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there;
but the redeemed shall walk there:
And the ransomed of the LORD shall return,
and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy
upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah 35: 8-10

Also, ‘Hollow’ means having an empty space within. With Jesus in our hearts, the once empty space is now filled. Once wayfaring and foolish, there will be no continuation of such persons on the highways in Heaven. Cleaned because of their faith, there will be the redeemed expressing joy from their hearts.

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart. The Sunday school song rings true. He whose love is shed aboard in our hearts works on our heart to produce joy and goodness by the power of the Holy Spirit.

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness,
faith, meekness, temperance:
against such there is no law.
Galatians 5: 22-23

Joy is the second fruit of the Holy Spirit. Meekness is there on the list after faith. To me, the nine fruits are like the three-persons-in-one Trinity—different aspects of our loving Creator. Since nothing can be against them, they are always correct. And that also means the opposites of these traits are always wrong.

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

1 Corinthians 13:13

The Holy Spirit lives within the heart of the believer. What does the Holy Spirit, or Counselor, do? He teaches us, reminds us, guides us, convicts us, tells the future, brings glory to Jesus and testifies about Jesus (John 14:15-John 16:16). The Holy Spirit does not live in the non-believer, and that is one excellent reason why faith is so important.

Jesus, the Son of God, spoke about joy in this encouraging promise:

And ye now therefore have sorrow:
but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice,
and your joy no man taketh from you.
John 16:22

To the believer who is enabled with different eyes through the power of the Holy Spirit, the cross is the point of the story the Author makes.

Looking unto Jesus
the author and finisher of our faith;
who for the joy that was set before him
endured the cross,
despising the shame,
and is set down at the right hand
of the throne of God.
Hebrews 12:2

The joy set before Jesus is, I think, a special joy only He can know. It must be such an awesome joy to have endured not only the cross and death itself but also the command of His Heavenly Father.

Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him;
he hath put him to grief:
when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin,
he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days,
and the pleasure of the LORD 
shall prosper in his hand.
Isaiah 53:10

What love from our Heavenly Father! 
For us! God has made a way for us.
What love from Jesus Christ! 
For us! Jesus willingly laid His life down for us. 

When depression weighs heavy on the heart, read the uplifting passage of Isaiah 35 about the joy of the redeemed. When we see corruption around us and grow saddened by our own going astray, it’s encouraging to know there’s a better place where we can live sin-free. Freedom is on the horizon. These earthly sacks will be dropped at the gate—the pearly gate. Heaven’s joy has been bought and paid for.

Likewise, I say unto you,
there is joy in the presence of the angels of God
over one sinner that repenteth.
Luke 15:10

I have an exceptional joy to share. I had the privilege of leading a loved one to the Lord recently. It was also an answer to years of prayer. :-)

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. James 1:21

When in a winter hollow, remember God gifts joy because of His outstanding and incredible meekness.