Joy in Prison?

I don't get it. It happens every time. I get overwhelmed with joy when I go to prison. Yes, prison. This past weekend, my husband and I served in a prison ministry in South Texas. My husband, along with a large team of men, ministered to 42 of the inmates throughout the weekend. I was a part of the outside team, which made meals for the inmates, bagged fresh cookies, and prayed regularly for them. On Sunday, everyone attended the closing ceremony in prison. This is the best part! We get to hear amazing testimonies of how these men were impacted by the weekend. That's when the tears seem to come. There's usually not a dry eye in the prison gym as these men share stories of how God rocked their world. Lives changed forever. No words to describe what we see. 

Think about it. These guys live a pretty miserable life. No doubt about that. Over the course of the weekend, we receive some pretty gut wrenching prayer requests from these guys. Struggling marriages. Divorce. Families that don't visit. Loneliness. Anger. Bitterness. Fear of other inmates. Family members that pass away while in prison. Waiting for parole. Being denied parole. And think about their day to day life. They live in a very controlled environment with few privileges. Their home? 6 feet by 8 feet. Their food? Horrible. They're treated like scum by most. Remember, they're there because they're a threat to society....and treated as such.

If I could describe one attitude I saw over and over at the closing ceremony, it was joy. JOY!  I know their lives aren't going to be easy in the days going forward. But, joy was evident on their faces. Undeniable joy. In our society, I think joy is often misunderstood. We usually associate joy with feeling good all the time. First of all, that's impossible for these inmates. It's impossible for us.

I love Kay Warren's definition of joy: Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be alright, and the determined choice to praise God in every situation. Life isn't always great. Life isn't always bad.  As we look to God and walk with Him, He is able to take the worst of circumstances and use them for good in our lives. Real joy rises above circumstances.  I saw that today with the inmates. 
 
How about you? Are you letting some crummy circumstances ruin your joy? Have you lost that zip to your step because of some "something" that destroyed it? Don't let anything snatch your joy. Nothing. With inmates, they are stripped of all the toys and joys that this life has to offer. But, nothing can steal their joy. Nothing. What has stolen your joy?  May God remind you today to lift your eyes from the circumstances and place them on Him. That's where joy is found.

"We're depending on God, he's everything we need. What's more, our hearts brim with joy since we've taken for our own his holy name. Love us, God, with all you've got- that' what we're depending on." Psalm 33:20-22 MSG

Nancy Abbott is the Chaplain for the YMCA of Greater San Antonio.