Sunday, January 22, 2017

FINDING JOY IN THE MIDST OF TRIALS


James 1:2-4 says, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
                                                                                                                                                                   

Many Christians think that once they’ve made that decision for Christ, everything will fall into place and life will be full of ‘roses’. Therefore when trials and tough times come upon them or continue, they begin to question, “why?” They wonder how they could possibly endure horrible circumstances and consider it joy. Some Christians brood over their trials so much so that they are lured back into the world or their relationship with God is affected. How can we as Christians find joy in the midst of the numerous trials in our lives?

Word of God
2Tm:3:12 says “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” .Peter also tackles this subject of joy through trials in 1Peter 1:6-9: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls”.
James and Peter, in their passages are encouraging us on how to view trials. We should ‘Consider it pure joy…’ ‘In this you greatly rejoice…’ Why? Because the trials we go through make us stronger. James passage clearly states that the testing of our faith produces perseverance. And Peter’s passage states that our faith, which is priceless, will be proved genuine and result in praise to God.
But how can we find joy in the midst of all the hardships and painful circumstances?

Finding Joy
First, we need to understand that joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness comes and goes sometimes as waves hitting the shore. Happiness isn’t something you can experience when you’ve lost a loved one, or are facing bankruptcy. Joy, on the other hand can stay with you throughout sad or trial moments, making you smile at the storms. The reason is that Real joy is from God. To the believer, real joy is like a bottomless well of water—always in abundant supply. Even in the darkest days, when sadness, grief, and loss may threaten to overwhelm you, God’s joy is there.
Secondly, we need to understand that God’s joy cannot be taken away. As believers, we are promised the constant presence of the Holy Spirit. We are promised His joy just as our salvation is assured through Jesus one-time sacrifice for all. Jesus words in John 15:11 says, “These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”  Acts 13:52 says, “And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.” In Acts 16:34, “And when he (the jailer) had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.”
God’s joy cannot be compared with the temporal happiness the world gives through partying, drugs, alcohol and the pleasurable times.
Thirdly, we need to stop self-pitying, whining and complaining and grab onto God’s joy. Just like salvation is a free and perfect gift from Him, we must reach out and accept that gift of joy. Grab onto it- like a lifeline. Choose joy over bitterness, anger, and sorrow. Make a decision to choose joy every day, no matter what.

Examples
Look at these great examples in Scripture: “How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;” (2 Corinthians 8:2-3). “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:” (1 Thessalonians 1:6). “Rejoice evermore” (1 Thessalonians 5:16). “For ye had compassion of me in my bonds, and took joyfully the spoiling of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better and an enduring substance.” (Hebrews 10:34). And the best illustration of all, “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2).
All through Scripture we see the persecution of the church, the trials, and hardships that believers have faced. The challenge then is to truly learn how to consider each trial joy.

Joy in the Lord
This topic is a lesson we should be relearning and rehearsing each and every day. May be your dear one is being declared a hopeless situation after going through several medical operations, you have not been able to find a job or job satisfaction for a long time, your financial situation and plans have not been palatable though you tell God every day about them. Take heart and know what James and Peter want you to discover. God’s joy really is there. You can consider each trial joy, you can greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory even when you feel like you are neglected and all hope is lost. You can endure whatever circumstances are making you worry right now. If you have been saved through faith in Jesus Christ—you have all you need.

Grab onto God’s joy. Amen!

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