James 1:2-3
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance."
Did you notice that it says, "Trials of many kinds"? We will have trials of many kinds, but we can get through them because we know that God will give us joy.
John 16:22
"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."
Nobody can take away our joy in the Lord. We will grieve now, but we can get through that grief with God's joy.
I have felt pain, and the joy for me is that when I die, I will go where there is no more pain, no more fears, and no more tears! The joy that I have in Jesus conquers all that pain. Our pain can not even compare to that joy in the Lord!
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of your faith, who for the joy that was set before
Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."
The same joy that was set before Jesus on the cross, knowing that He would save many people from hell, is set before us. We have the same joy Jesus does!!!
A lot of insight in that last paragraph. It is THRU Christ's suffering that joy is found. We will suffer (and do suffer) too, but joy comes in the morning. Thankful for that promise.
ReplyDeleteSomeone once said that joy can be used as an acronym:
ReplyDeleteJesus,
Others,
You.
Putting Him and then others first in our lives brings JOY. Good message, Emma. I love you. Gogi