God Can't Resist Blowing Bubbles

"Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."
1Peter 1:8

Perch a little kid above a tall glass of cold milk with a straw and what comes next? An irresistible urge to blow bubbles!

He heaves a tiny breath and blows gently. Blub.

Again. Blub, blub. A giggle escapes.

He blows a bit harder. Blub, blub, blub.  Joy overwhelms him.

He can't resist watching those bubbles rise so he blows harder. Blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub, blub.

Bubbles rise and fill and spill, filling him with uncontrollable laughter, until Mom walks in and says, "Mop up that mess!"

He sucks down those milk-fed bubbles and sops up all the joy he can--still giggling--savoring the fullness of the moment that carries him through his day.

Entering God's presence is like placing a glass of milk and a straw in front of a child--God can't resist blowing bubbles. The more we focus on his goodness, sing praises to his name the more his Holy Spirit rises within us, filling us with heaven's joy. And the more God hears us giggle the harder he blows, filling us with more and more of his Spirit until our joy rises and fills and spills.

I use to think God's joy eluded me. Try as I might to fill myself with God's joy, I always came up lacking. Reread that statement. We cannot experience heaven's joy simply by wishing or willing. Rather, joy comes only as an overflow of God's presence in our lives--not by his choice because God is a gentleman--never forcing himself on us. Rather, he simply knocks, waits for an invitation and an open door.

And when we let him in? When he sits at our table? He's like a little boy perched above that cold glass of milk with a straw! All darkness dissipates and the room fills with his light, his joy, his laughter. And laughter is contagious.

Today, I experienced true laughter--just me and God--alone in His presence. It shocked me at first. I felt like a crazy woman laughing at nothing. But I'm not crazy and I'm not alone. Peter said, "even though you do not see {Jesus} now, you are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy" (1 Peter 1:8). And when we are filled with God's Holy Spirit there is freedom--freedom that bubbles and fills and spills over with laughter!

"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2Corinthians 3:17

Are you searching for true joy in your own strength and coming up empty? Won't you find a quiet spot and set a table for two? Just you and God. Put on some soft music and fill the room with praise and thanksgiving. Then open the door and invite him in--trust in his goodness and let his Spirit fill and rise and spill over you.

God can't resist blowing bubbles!