A Different kind of Joy

Always be full of joy in the Lord. (Philippians 4:4, NLT)

There will always be times when life is hard to take, nothing will seem to be going our way, sorrows will come, troubles will hit us hard and fast. And we will not go around smiling at everyone we meet or full of laughter and gaiety. Sometimes our heart is heavy, we are weary and will cry in secret, and a smile will not come to our lips no matter how hard we try to force one.

The kind of joy Paul writes about here is not that kind of joy we wear but the kind of joy that is deep within. We are not joyful about our circumstances. For whom could be joyful over loss or disappointment, during deep struggles and dark days or seasons? No one I know. Paul says there is a kind of joy that goes beyond any momentary emotion or outward appearance, it is that joy we have because we have placed our faith in the Lord. The joy we have because we are confident our God will carry us through the hardest times we face, whatever we are going through, no matter how difficult it is. Joy in the Lord looks a lot like the peace Jesus brings to us in our circumstances. If we are experiencing trouble but we have a sense of peace, then we can also confirm and testify we have joy in the Lord. Let’s Pray    

Sometimes, Lord we misunderstand joy to be an emotion we feel instead of faith that we have placed in you. Amen

Reflective Questions for Soul-Tending:

Even in tough times is your joy in the Lord?

How will you incorporate today’s message into your plan of soul-care?