Guided by Her Eminence, Queen Abbess Dr. Patricia Hackshaw
Beloved in Christ, the world often mistakes joy for a fleeting emotion, dependent on favourable circumstances. When life is good, joy is present; when trials come, it vanishes. But the joy that Christ offers is of a different substance altogether. It is a deep, abiding wellspring that flows from the inside out, independent of the storms that rage on the outside. This is the joy that Her Eminence, Queen Abbess Dr. Patricia Hackshaw, exemplifies—a joy that is rooted in the eternal and cannot be shaken by the temporal.
The Apostle Paul, writing from a prison cell, commanded the Philippian church to “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). This was not a frivolous suggestion, but a command rooted in a profound spiritual reality. His joy was not in his circumstances, but “in the Lord.” His identity, his salvation, his hope, and his future were all secure in Christ. This is the unassailable foundation of Christian joy. It is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22), cultivated in the secret place of intimacy with God, not manufactured by positive thinking.
Nehemiah declared, “…the joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). Notice that it is not joy from the Lord, but the joy of the Lord. It is His very own joy, flowing through us. This divine joy becomes our fortitude, our resilience, and our power to endure. It is the secret of the saints who could sing hymns in prison and praise God in the fire. Their focus was not on the chains or the flames, but on the unchanging character of a faithful God.
How do we tap into this wellspring? We fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross (Hebrews 12:2). We meditate on His promises, recount His faithfulness, and offer sacrifices of praise even when we don’t feel like it. We choose to find our delight in Him. Today, do not let your joy be held hostage by your circumstances. Dig deep into the well of salvation, and draw water with joy (Isaiah 12:3). For the Lord is near, and in His presence there is fullness of joy (Psalm 16:11).
Amen.
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