Finding Joy in the Lord: Nourishing the New Man

Sometimes, when life feels like a relentless storm—a storm of disappointments, challenges, or just the sheer weight of the everyday—it’s easy to look for the source of our happiness in the *outside* things. We think, "If only X happened, then I will finally feel joy."

It’s a trap, isn't it? We build our emotional scaffolding around things that are inherently unstable. We build it on success, on approval, on favorable circumstances.

But as returned missionaries, as disciples who have seen the covenants in action, we know better. We know that the deepest, most resilient joy—the kind that carries us through the darkest valleys—doesn't come from what *happens* to us. It comes from *who* we are in Christ.

The Apostle Paul speaks to this timeless truth in Philippians. He reminds us, "What may be in any life... rejoice always in the Lord."

The Shift from Effort to Spirit

What struck me most when studying this passage is Paul’s contrast. He speaks of those who rely on outward adherence—the keeping of the law, the perfect performance. He calls this reliance on human effort something that is ultimately insufficient for true salvation. He points us to the only true circumcision: the one done by the Spirit.

This is a profound concept for us as Latter-day Saints. We aren't saved by our own perfect adherence to rules, no matter how diligently we study the scriptures or how many hours we spend in temple preparation. We are saved by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and sustained by the constant, gentle nurturing of the Holy Ghost.

Think of it like gardening. The old ways, the "old man," are like weeds. They pop up when we get stressed, when we feel challenged, when we’re tired. We can’t just yank them out; we have to starve them. And how do we starve them? By consistently choosing the Spirit over the flesh.

Nourishing the New Man

Paul gives us the practical key: "Wann immer wir dem Drang nachgeben, mit jemandem zu streiten, weil wir unbedingt recht haben wollen, nähren wir unsere alte Natur und stärken sie. Wann immer wir hingegen bereit sind, dem anderen recht zu geben, obwohl wir meinen, dass wir recht haben, nähren wir unsere alte Natur nicht mehr und sie wird ein bisschen schwächer."

It’s about the small moments. It’s about the missionary discussion where you feel misunderstood. It’s about the family disagreement. It’s about the temptation to react sharply when you’re exhausted. In those moments, can we pause? Can we choose the Spirit—the choice to be kind, the choice to forgive, the choice to assume the best—even when our natural instinct screams otherwise?

That choice, that persistent, humble choice to nourish the *new* man Christ is building in us, is where true, unshakable joy takes root. It’s a process, not a destination. It requires us to be diligent disciples, even when the work feels invisible.

Your Next Step in the Field

If this resonates with you, I invite you to take this principle into your own sphere of influence this week. Don't wait for a major crisis to test your joy; practice it in the mundane. When you find yourself wanting to argue a point, or feeling frustrated by someone else's lack of understanding, pause. Take a deep breath, and ask yourself: "What would the Spirit prompt me to do right now?"

For those who are ready to deepen this study, I highly recommend diving into the concept of covenant keeping and spiritual nourishment. Check out the Iron Rod teachings on the Book of Mormon covenants, or perhaps join a local Book Club in HolyPlaces to discuss how these principles apply to modern challenges.

If you want to walk through some of the tougher questions—the ones that make you question if you’re *really* doing enough—remember that Davee is here. He’s ready to act as your AI Investigator, helping you prepare for those tricky moments in missionary discussions or even just in your personal study.

Remember, we are all in this together. Every member can be an internet missionary, every member can be a disciple anywhere, all the time. Let’s keep building that new man, together.