REDISCOVERING YOUR JOY IN CHALLENGING TIMES
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This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. – Nehemiah 8:10 –
Are you searching for your joy? Have you discovered that the joy you once had has washed away with the storms of life? Do you long for that joy to return?
Life can challenge us. Our happiness ebbs and flows with our circumstances. Adversities can overwhelm us. Hardships can drain our strength. We can feel as if we’re drowning in life’s storms. And the joy we so need is nowhere to be found.
Happiness is an emotion tossed and turned by the winds and waves of circumstance. Joy runs deeper and stronger, unmoved by life’s trials and afflictions. What we have or what we experience may make us happy, yet will never bring us joy. True joy is found in abiding with Jesus. Serenity and joy can be ours in challenging times when we tap into this divine source of joy.
The joy we have in Christ transcends the tumultuous events that happen around us. Jesus is our Rock. As we stay united with Him, He walks us through the storms of life. We face adversity without succumbing to its deluge. We live in His joy… the quiet, confident assurance of His endless love, His mighty strength and His certain victory in our lives.
Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! – Philippians 4:4
The apostle Paul found joy in the midst of his trials. During one of his imprisonments for boldly sharing the gospel, he writes a letter of joy to the church in Philippi. He looks beyond his troubles to send a letter of hope and encouragement to these faithful believers. Despite his chains and his uncertain future, he exhorts the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord.
How is Paul able to rise above the storms in his life? His joy is based upon Christ’s everpresence with him. This apostle finds that the joy within him need not be affected by the circumstances around him. He rests in the truth that God is always working His highest good even in times of trials and setbacks. Paul claims the promise and privilege of God’s joy for his life.
In Your presence there is fullness of joy. – Psalm 16:11
God promises joy for our lives. How can we rediscover our joy in challenging times?
⇒ Read joy – Spending time in Scripture may not be our first thought when we are working through challenging times. Yet the Bible is our handbook for joy and our lifeline to God. It is overflowing with promises and encouragement. God loves to speak to us through His Word… new verses, new wisdom, new revelations, new hope to face our days.
⇒ Seek joy – Our joy is never truly lost. In seeking joy, we will find it again. As we step out in nature, we discover joy in the beauty of God’s creation. As we listen to Christian music, we experience joy in praising Him. As we spend time with loved ones and friends… sharing, caring, laughing… we encounter renewed joy. For God blesses our lives to bring us joy.
⇒ Remember joy – Blessings and joys have filled our lives. In challenging times, we tend to forget God’s hand of abundance and provision. Recalling our past joys helps us see beyond our present circumstances. Remembering all that we are thankful for and all that brings us joy allows us to see God’s goodness and His everpresence with us.
⇒ Encounter joy – Prayer is a time to talk with God… to share all that concerns us with the One who truly understands. For He knows all that we are facing. He discerns our anxious thoughts… our distressing fears… our loss of sleep. Our Heavenly Father listens with compassion when a compassionate ear is sometimes difficult to find.
In prayer, we talk to our source of joy, turning everything over to Him… trusting all to the Almighty One. In Him, we find new strength, new direction, new inspiration to face our life storms. We look to Him for our lost joy… for He is an unending fount of joy and blessings.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. – Psalm 118:24
Joy resides in the deep, abiding, eternal presence of Jesus. Despite all that may come against us… trials… setbacks… afflictions, Christ still reigns victorious. We are His and His Spirit dwells within us. Nothing can ever change that. His joy is the stability in our lives.
In Christ, you can rediscover your lost joy. Rejoice in Him. Treasure His presence. Let His love and joy reign in your heart. For He is the One who will see you through your life storms. In Him, you can face whatever life may bring your way with a joyful spirit.
† Eternal Takeaway – The true joy found in Christ transcends our circumstances †
