Joy
Café Menu for Friday, March 14, 2014
Today’s Special is: Rejoicing In Sorrows
Carefully prepared just for you by your friend, Carolyn Dale Newell
Main Ingredient:
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials
– James 1:2 NKJV
Entrée:
I didn’t feel very joyful when my husband was given 12 months to live because he had leukemia. Years later, I was not happy about the fact that I was going blind. However, I did find joy both times.
A few days after my husband was given this death sentence, God opened up the door to an experimental drug, and his life was spared. My joy was in the outcome of that trial. I was too immature in my faith to trust God and find joy during the trial itself.
Over ten years later, when my vision started rapidly diminishing, I was scared, but I found joy in the ways that God helped me. When I struggled with braille, I asked God for grace, and He supplied it. When something falls on the floor, I seek His help, and once again, He is there.
We can be in the worst of storms, and we can be full of sorrow, but we can still have joy. Happiness is based on “happenings”, but joy is found in the Lord. We are joyful because He answers prayer. We can have joy even when the answer is not what we would have chosen for ourselves because His grace is always sufficient. God supplies our every need, and He strengthens us when we do not have the strength to go on.
We are joyful because we know that these temporary trials are so small in comparison to the glory that awaits us. That is why Paul could say, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). He was sitting in a Roman prison when he wrote those words.
What is your prison, your storm, or your trial?
They can never steal your joy because no matter how bad it is, Jesus will never leave your side. Your joy is in Him because He will bring you safely to the other side.
Take Out:
Have you ever wondered how you are supposed to rejoice in every situation, even the bad ones?
We confuse joy with happiness. Happiness is what we feel when our circumstances are going well, but joy is constant. It is never based on circumstances, but it is based on God, Who never changes (Hebrews 13:8). That is the only way we can have joy during times of sadness.
Dessert:
Dear Lord, help me feel Your joy today. You know my situation, and I need Your Mercy, but while I am in this struggle, help me to focus on You. Help me not to allow this trial to steal my joy which comes from You. Thank You for all that You do. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
© 2014 by Carolyn Dale Newell. All rights reserved.
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Originally published Friday, 14 March 2014.
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