James
1:2-4 NLT
Consider it
all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may
be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
That verse has been part
of my Christian walk for as long as I been a Christian. That is well over 27 years by now. The first sermon I heard on these verses was
powerful and one I listened to many times.
It has stuck with me.
Turn the tables and learn
how to apply it in the face of pain and sorrow is another thing. In my work in the church and community I have
seen lots and lots of pain and heartache.
Those things have made these verses come to life. Joy is so needed. Trials will come, have come and will keep on
coming. Joy is what will give us some
perspective.
I’ve walked with several
people in the last couple decades who have taught me what joy looks like in
times of pain. God is real. God alone gives lasting joy. I want to thank many of those people who have
been living examples of what joy looks like.
It isn’t darkness. It is punching holes in the darkness. It isn’t fear. It is fear being pushed away by faith. It isn’t depression or despair. It is a deep understanding of our God being
in control that allows fear to thrive.
One of the examples of
this truth is author Margaret Feinberg. She and her husband Leif have been dear
friends of mine for several years. In
the past couple years she has battled cancer and recently published a book
titled Fight back With Joy.
I’d like to share with you
some simple quotes from Margaret’s journey:
Light-seeds are
planted in the souls of God’s people, Joy-seeds are planted in good heart-soil.
–Psalm 97:11
Life doesn't have to
be perfect to be filled with joy.
So true: You will
fill me with joy in your presence. –Psalm 16:11
Hope springs when we
realize God as the source of life when all seems lost.
Grieving may last
for the night, but joy doesn’t only wait for the morning—it comes in the
mourning, too.
The journey to joy
leads us to greater dependence on Christ.
Sometimes JOY comes
through others as a gift of grace, but just as often it requires
intentionality.
Circumstances
change. Joy endures.
I've never quit
loving you, and never will. Expect love, love, and more love! {Jeremiah 31:3}
Sometimes we need to
give space for grief in order to make room for joy.
For the kingdom of
God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy
in the Holy Spirit... Romans 14:7
Make the decision to declare today: Joyful Are We!
You have joy because
you are drenched in the grace and mercies of God.
God stands on
tiptoes, waiting to whisper in your ear: “You are loved.”
Fear may show up on
your doorstep but it doesn’t have to rule your life.
Sometimes you have
to poke holes in the darkness until it bleeds light.
One word from God
can change everything.
Several of those have rang in my heart and mind for sometime. My prayer is that we will have huge amounts
of real joy, God given joy, in our lives; that is enough joy that we cannot
help but share it and give it to others. Let’s fight back with joy!
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