There was a little song we would belt out at Sunday School back in the 90’s. It went, “I’ve got joy that is down in my heart, Deep, deep down in my heart; J-O-Y that is down in my heart, Deep, deep, down in my heart.”

Our decrepit classroom would reverberate with the enthusiasm that only eager Sunday School kids can muster up that early in the morning. This tune fell into what we called the “action song” category—which meant that there was some aerobic activity involved in the rendition. As we cheerily sang, “Deep, deep, down in my heart,” we would put our hamstrings to work and squat low and wiggle our hips in rhythm to the music (At least most of us would do the jig. If you were an 11-year-old boy you likely just stood there and looked sullen because there was no way you were doing an “action song” which involved hip wiggling.)

Some 35 years later, I’m at a stage of life where if I do any aerobic activity, I want it recorded and captured for all posterity on my Apple watch. I ain’t going to squat if it ain’t counted toward my “active calorie burn” for the day.

But along with my reluctance to squat, I’ve also noticed a slow depletion of joy.

I don’t know about you, but I don’t find myself “joyful” on most days. More often than not, I find myself in “just go through the motions” mode. Joy doesn’t even seem to be a viable option for the humdrum of the work week. I am way too focused on getting the to-do list checked off. I am way too distracted by the beeps and buzzes of social media and messages. I am way too pressured to keep up with the world’s expectations of me. When the stress is on, the joy is off!

In his letter to the Galatians, Paul asks the believers in the region a question that resonates with us today: “What has happened to all your joy?” (Galatians 4: 15).

Paul reminds the churches in Galatia that when he first visited them, they welcomed him and blessed him even though he was unwell and may have imposed a burden on them. They didn’t think of their service to him as a drudgery or a chore. But now Paul senses that they are not eager or joyful when it comes to listening to him share the truth. He asks them quite pointedly: “What then has become of your blessedness?”

Here’s what had happened: the Galatians had turned back the “weak and worthless elementary principles of the world.” (Galatians 4: 9). Their joy was drained because they had returned to striving for their salvation.

Maybe that very thing is happening to us today. We forget that our salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone. Instead, we add layers of “weak and worthless” principles to our lives.

We think, “If I check off the to-do’s, then I’ll have worth.” The result? Task list completed. Joy depleted.

We think, “If I am able to make this position in my company, then I’ll have security.” The result? Climbing the ladder completed. Joy depleted.

We think, “If I lose ten pounds and fit into that dress, then I’ll have value.” The result? Getting to target weight completed.  Joy depleted.

We think, “If I catch up on everyone’s life on social media and ensure I’m still ahead of them, then I’ll be happy.” The result? Dopamine hit completed. Joy depleted.

We tend to gravitate toward the principles and programs the self-help gurus propose as the way to worth and satisfaction. And in the process, we lose our joy.

Friends, Scripture reminds us in Galatians 5 that joy is one of the fruit of the Spirit.

Can we discard the lies of the enemy that joy is found in pursuing the things of the world? Can we go back to where we find our true joy? We find it in Jesus. We find it in building the kingdom. We find it in serving others.

Can we pray and ask the Lord to restore to us the joy of salvation? There is nothing sweeter than knowing that we belong to Him now and will be with Him for all eternity.

If God asks me, “What happened to your joy?” I want to be able to answer with the words of another “action song” from Sunday school: “It’s bubbling, it’s bubbling, it’s bubbling in my soul. There’s singing, there’s shouting for Jesus made me whole.”

Yes. He makes us whole. We don’t need to add anything to His perfect offer of grace.  We can simply rejoice in it.

It is time to take back JOY.

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