BEING JOYFUL IN GOD
But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.
Everyone is looking for joy. Ad agencies know this. Every commercial promises the same outcome if we purchase their product: We will receive joy. Want some joy? Buy our product. Every commercial tells the story of a joy-filled person.
“But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You; Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them; Let those also who love Your name Be joyful in You.” (Psalm 5:11)
Joy. Everyone wants it. Everyone promises it. Can anyone deliver joy? God wants us to experience a joyful life in Him.
The joy offered by God is different than the one promised in a commercial. God has no interest in giving you temporary joy. God wants to provide you with real joy: a deep-seated, heart-felt, honest-to-goodness, sense of joy that can weather the most difficult of storms.
“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.” (I Peter 1:8-9)
Who was Peter addressing when he spoke of unspeakable joy? Peter talked to God’s people who were away from their homes and were scattered around the world.
“whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,” (I Peter 1:8)
The source of their joy was Jesus. Since no one could take their Jesus, no one could take their joy.
What about us? What has been taken from us? Our health? Our jobs? Our houses? Our dreams? Our marriages? Our friends? Is our joy buried there, too?
If so, we may have substituted God’s joy for their own joy. Our joy is always dependent upon a circumstance. Our own joy says I will be happy when or I will be happy if. I will be happy when I am healed or when I am home. Our own joy depends upon the right circumstance. Since we cannot control every circumstance, we set ourselves up for disappointment.
God’s joy turns us into strong people. God’s joy sets the hope in our hearts. Since no one can take God away, no one can take our joy. Think about it. Can death take our joy? No, because Jesus is greater than death. Can failure take our joy? No, because Jesus is greater than our sins. Can betrayal take our joy? No, because Jesus will never leave us. Can sickness take our joy? No, because God has promised to heal us. Can disappointment take our joy? No, because though our plans may not work out, you know God’s plan will.
“Therefore you now have sorrow; but I will see you again and your heart will rejoice, and your joy no one will take from you.” (John 16:22)
Death, failure, betrayal, sickness, disappointment cannot take our joy because they cannot take our God. And God promised. No one will take away our joy!
Do not give in to despair. Ask God to show you the joy that cannot be taken away. God will. God will stir a revival of His joy in your heart.
Where is the joy in your life from God, or yourself?
Heavenly Father, I set my heart and mind to receive from You. The real joy: A deep-seated, heart-felt, honest-to-goodness, sense of joy that can weather the most difficult of storms. I can only find that in knowing You. I believe I receive that joy in my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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God Wants To Provide Us With Real Joy: A Deep-seated, Heart-felt, Honest-to-goodness, Sense Of Joy That Can Weather The Most Difficult Of Storms.
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