Crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Psalm 30 5b
As I look out of the window this morning and see the snow on the grass, the shed, in fact all around the garden for me it paints a lovely picture. A snow scene always fills me with joy and I think that joy is the one commodity that we all need in this time of lockdown.
As we have looked this week at encouragement, joy is perhaps one of our greatest assets that will help us come through this lockdown.
You might say how can you have joy at this time? Perhaps we are looking at the word joy in the wrong sense? Perhaps the Biblical sense of joy is different from the word joy which you are right now relating to?
Joy (Gk.chara) means a complete satisfaction and gladness based on the love, grace, blessing, and promises of God that belong to those who believe in Christ. The nearer one is to God the greater joy becomes.
Everyone wants to be happy and people are trying many different ways to achieve happiness.
But let the godly rejoice. Let them be glad in God’s presence. Let them be filled with joy.
Psalm 68:3 NLT
- Job had a solid foundation of faith to keep the JOY in him.
- You see Job built his life on trusting the Lord no matter what happened.
- Job knew that he could rebuild his life with the Lord’s help.
- Job knew that his real and lasting joy would come from the Lord.
- Job prayed for his friends and the Lord restored his life to full joy and blessings.
- When times are hard we still can have JOY.
Suffering and trials can produce joy. Take Paul and Silas (Acts 16:24-25) who were thrown into prison, their feet fast in the stocks. At midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. They sang praises to the Lord because they were happy in spite of their circumstances.
They trusted the Lord to take care of them and to help them get through the trials. Because they trusted the Lord the soul of the jailer and his family were saved.
Now no one is saying it is easy. It is certainly a game-changer when we fully trust in the Lord. As the song reminded us yesterday trust and obey for there is no other way.
You know God has a plan for your life. Therefore you can walk with confidence trusting in the Lord.
The writer summed it up ”The joy of the Lord is my strength.” I remain strong and positive when things go wrong because I trust in God. I am quick to see the brighter side of things. I know that for my shattered plans, God has better plans. My contentment springs from the knowledge that God is sovereign and Jesus is coming, again.
Some say joy is a feeling of happiness, ranging from gladness to great delight or exultation. It can also refer to whatever brings about the feeling of happiness. Contentment, satisfaction, and triumph may express various degrees of joy, depending on circumstances.
People may find joy in their accomplishments, work, family, association with others, etc. Doing good deeds may result in peace or serenity of conscience – a kind of moral joy.
May I recommended this verse as the number one for JOY
So finally may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13