A geyser is a vent in Earth’s surface that periodically ejects a column of hot water and steam; it’s a sight I’d really like to see. These are quite rare, so I’d probably have to travel either to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming or to Iceland if I wanted to see one. Geyser activity, like all hot spring activity, is caused by surface water gradually seeping down through the ground until it meets rock heated by magma; geysers occur in volcanic areas. Apparently, there are two kinds of geysers: the ‘fountain’ type and ‘cone geysers’ (like ‘Old Faithful’ in Yellowstone National Park) which erupt from cones or mounds:
Yellowstone is the largest geyser locale, containing thousands of hot springs, and approximately 300 to 500 geysers. It is home to half of the world’s total number of geysers in its nine geyser basins. Due to the high rate of volcanic activity in Iceland, it is home to some famous geysers in the world.
Joy is rather like a geyser, I think. It bubbles away under the surface for most of the time, but then it spurts forth, visible to all, and, like the picture above, often grows in intensity! God’s dramatic intervention in our lives often calls forth joy from us; Ps 18, for example, was written by David ‘when the Lord delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.’ It talks of God’s rescue and help and is scattered with praise: ‘The Lord lives! Praise be to my Rock! Exalted be God my Saviour!‘ (Ps 18:46) As we dwell on God’s faithfulness and remember all He has done for us, joy wells up and praise spills out.
Geysers apparently are not only a tourist attraction, they are also used to generate electricity and for heating. Joy is not something simply to be viewed by others; it is a source of heat and power in our own lives, sustaining us through the barrenness of winter and the dark nights of the soul when God feels so distant. Nehemiah reminds us that ‘the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ (Neh 8:10) Rend Collective, in their song ‘Joy of the Lord’ sing ‘In the darkness I’ll dance/ In the shadows I’ll sing.’ Whilst it may take time to learn to do this, God’s joy is within us, the gift of Jesus (Jn 15:11), and therefore can overflow as we dwell on who God is and all He has done.
Ps 149:6 tells us that praise is a double-edged sword in our hands. Don’t let the enemy rob you of joy, but let it well up and overflow like a geyser!