Meetings, Meetings, Meetings...

For our first full day on the ground in Africa, we went to meetings. Lots of them.

However, that’s not nearly as bad as it sounds. For instance, most of them were in air conditioning, and when you’re in Africa at the equator, that’s a real plus. Beyond creature comforts, though, we finally got to meet men and women who up until now have been only names on the other end of emails. So many impressions, but the first and most prominent was simply this: joy.

Joy and happiness are significantly different states. I don’t say that to say that these men and women weren’t happy—they certainly were—but rather to say that even in situations where happiness would be impossible, I firmly believe that they would still have joy. Joy is a far more transcendent state. I keep saying “state” because I’m not sure it’s accurate to call joy an emotion, for emotions come and go. Joy sticks. It’s not dependent on circumstances, or the joy (or lack) of those around you. No matter the externals, joy remains. Paul lists “joy” as a part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22)—true joy is simply not natural. It doesn’t come from a perfected inside any more than it relies on the right circumstances outside. True joy only comes from God. And these friends of ours had it.

“In spades,” as they say.

We met the men who will be accompanying us to Bata, EG, and were able to receive their thankfulness for our coming and being an answer to their prayer, and we were able to express the same. We met a remarkable group of people at the Libreville health clinic (run by the Christian & Missionary Alliance), where we will begin the dental clinic. They also expressed a deep thankfulness to us, seeing us as an answer to their prayers. Again, we expressed, and deeply felt, the same.

In some ways, of course, we do represent an answer to prayers. There are resources and skills that come with us that they simply don’t possess on their own. We come seeking to follow them, not force our way. We want to offer what we have and desire to mobilize what we have for Kingdom use, and they are clearly a part of that Kingdom. But you know what’s fascinating? I’m not sure whether if any of that was true or not—or whether we were even there or not—it would have made even the slightest impact on their joy. Our presence simply allowed us to experience it. And to rejoice with them.

What gives joy? Certainly it comes from God. But what about the presence of God causes it? I’m not sure I know the full answer to the question, but I think it has something to do with a deep belief in the sovereignty of God. People with deep joy understand that they are not in charge, and neither is anyone else. They understand that circumstances, as good or bad as they might be, are not the final status of things. God is in charge, fully and completely. And when it’s time for things to change, they will. Until them, they have learned to live contented. Like Paul, they have learned to be content in plenty and in want (Philippians 4:11-12) and that even deep difficulties are light and momentarily in the scope of eternity, and eternity is on its way (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).

We may bring vision, dentistry, resources, material goods, and many other things to Africa. But if we can leave with even a portion of that joy, we’ll have gotten the far better end of the exchange.