Could it be the joy of your salvation is restored through trust? Trusting that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He’ll do?
“Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” Habakkuk 3:18 (ESV)
Dozens of whispered thank-yous sprinkle my days as I praise God for big things and small. Morning cups of coffee, beautiful mountain views, face-timing grandkids, and everything in between.
Recently, however, I realized it’d been a while since I’d thanked God for salvation. It wasn’t until I saw a Facebook challenge to make this a daily intention that I was reminded of the importance of rejoicing in the precious gift of salvation.
When the joy of salvation fades, it can be for many reasons, including busyness, preoccupation, or depression. Some might even begin to doubt their security in Christ and wonder if they’re really saved at all.
If you’re wanting to revive the joy of salvation, but aren’t sure how, here are a few things to consider:
Ask God to Restore It
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” Psalm 51:12
Guilt about our waning joy can prevent us from talking to God about it. However, that’s exactly what the enemy hopes we’ll do. If he can keep us silent, too ashamed to seek God’s help, he’s accomplished his mission to steal, kill, and destroy.
The reasons for your lack of joy aren’t nearly as important as continuously seeking God and asking for help. Take your feelings to Him—every single one of them. Admit you’re not as excited about salvation as you used to be. Pray for God to reveal the lies of the enemy. And ask for restored joy.
When David penned Psalm 51, he’d just been confronted by the Prophet Nathan about his affair with Bathsheba. David was convicted to the core, saying, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love, according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin” (Psalm 51:1-2). Then, a few verses later, he included the petition, “Restore to me the joy of your salvation.”
You see, in the depths of David’s sin and shame, salvation was all he had. And in order to move past his transgression, he needed the Lord to restore his joy. Crying out to God is the best way to bring revival. Allow the cleansing power of the Holy Spirit to meet you where you are and fill you with joy once again.
A Simple Prayer to Take with You:
Gracious God, will You please restore to me the joy of Your salvation? By Your Holy Spirit, please revive me again, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
Revisit What It Means
When we’ve walked with Jesus for any length of time, the initial burst of joy we once felt about salvation eventually settles into ordinary thought. I’m not saying this is a good thing, but rather, a simple fact.
Other things begin to take precedence in our hearts, namely relationships, pressing circumstances, and life goals. It takes intentionality to stop and revisit what it means to be saved. The Bible says, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
The treasure we’ve been given through Jesus’ sacrifice is the most valuable treasure ever to exist! When we take time to really process what salvation means—everlasting life—we can’t help but rejoice!
Here are even more reasons to rejoice in salvation:
We’ve Been Adopted
“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:3-6).
We’ve Been Sealed
“You also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession—to the praise of his glory” (Ephesians 1:13-14).
We’ve Been Made Alive
“Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:4-5).
A Simple Prayer to Take with You:
Father, please continue to remind me of the abundant blessings I have in salvation. Thank You for adopting me into Your family, sealing me by Your Spirit, and making me alive with Christ. In His precious name, Amen.
Trust Again
For some, when the joy of salvation fades, it means doubt has crept in. The once-felt security of Jesus’ sacrifice starts to feel less secure until full-blown fear takes over. This can wreak havoc on joy and peace, even leading us to question, “Am I really saved?”
In Psalm 13:1-2, David admitted doubt and fear when he said, “How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me?”
This candid look into David’s thoughts can comfort us who struggle with doubts about our salvation. It reminds us we aren’t alone, that even a man after God’s own heart sometimes needed to recalibrate his faith.
Later, in Psalm 13, David said, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.” His words tell us that no matter how dark a season we’re in, we can decide to trust in God’s unfailing love. Could it be the joy of your salvation is restored through trust? Trusting that God is who He says He is and will do what He says He’ll do?
1 Peter 1:8-9 says, “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 end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.”
It’s okay to admit when your faith is wavering. In fact, God wants to hear all about it! He’s the best One to listen, love, and lean into when you’re struggling. Revive the joy of your salvation by trusting again. Though you cannot see Him, you can trust Him to fill you with inexpressible joy!
A Simple Prayer to Take with You:
Lord, please take my doubts and replace them with unwavering trust in You. Help me recognize fear as a tactic from the enemy and rebuke it in Jesus’ name. My hope is in You, Lord, and my joy is renewed in Your salvation today. In Jesus’ holy name, Amen.
More Resources for Your Journey:
How to Ask God to “Restore to Me the Joy of Your Salvation”
3 Ways the Joy of Salvation Can Be Restored
Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Oleh_Slobodeniuk
