It is often perceived and
sometimes taught outright that a "bubbly personality" is equivalent
to having the joy of the Lord. Such a view has made some of us who infrequently
experience "bubbly" to feel guilty about our lack of spirituality.
The result is a concentrated self-effort to produce "joy" within.
This is destined to end in failure. Whatever is produced by this means can
certainly not be called the joy of the Lord.

The simple fact is that
personality has nothing to do with spirituality. They stem from two entirely
different sources. Personality is natural to both saved and unsaved and ebbs
and flows with the emotions. To base one’s spirituality on such can only lead
to frustration.

Spirituality, on the other hand,
comes from the Divine. Even the most "bubbly" among the unsaved know
nothing of true joy.

What, then, is the joy of the
Lord, and what would characterize one in whom it has residence? The joy of the
Lord is simply the enjoyment of Christ and His Word day by day. It is nothing
mystical or self-produced. Without fanfare or applause, the Spirit of God in
the quietness of our meditations produces a joy in Christ which nothing but
neglect can take away. Joy grows in our lives to the proportion of our enjoyment
of the knowledge of Christ.

Those whose hearts are thus
filled with the joy of the Lord are strong. "The joy of the Lord is your
strength" (Neh. 8:10). They are able to meet trials without faltering for
they are in touch with One seated far above the trials. They delight in the
Word and seek the truths in it both at home and at the meetings. They share
with others and encourage others with the precious things of Christ.