Choose Joy
Joy and rejoicing is a choice. Pete’s wife Suzan reminded us that Joy is not the absence of pain. Rather, it is the presence of God. The challenge is to focus on the Lord and the things of the spirit of life in Christ. Our calling is to be a disciplined follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. God gives us trials and allows tribulation in our lives so that we can understand that our joy is not in this world, but only in Him. Happiness doesn’t impress God.. However, when we are joyful despite trials and tribulations, then we can rejoice because His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Life is hard. We live in a fallen world. In John 16 Jesus said, “do you now believe? You will be scattered and leave me all alone. And yet I am not alone for my father is always with me. In this world ye will have tribulation. But be of good cheer because I have overcome the world.”
Job said, “man is destined for trouble like the sparks flying upward.” According to Jeremiah, The heart of man is desperately wicked. The scriptures say not to be surprised when we have to endure suffering. Christians throughout history have been the victims of persecution ever since Jesus’ Ascension.. Jesus said, “blessed are they when men shall revile you and persecute you and say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake for great is your reward in heaven.”
Holiness means to separate according to the purpose for which God has designed us. We were never meant for the world’s design. Our responsibility is to have an affinity, not for the things of this world, but for the things of heaven… the things of the spirit of God in Christ in us. Suffering is a gift from God for those who want to glorify their Lord Jesus Christ. The greatest witness is when we have peace despite suffering. We have been called, not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for his name. When Pete prayed about all of the troubles in his life, God revealed to him, “these things are your friends. They have caused you to turn your heart to me.” In times of tribulation as Paul said, “to you O Lord I lift up my soul. O God I trust in you. Let me not be ashamed.” We want to glorify the name of the Lord despite the pain of this world.
It’s difficult to endure pain…to crucify the old man of the flesh by living according to nature of the resurrected Christ in me. Our calling is to point others to him by the way we respond to adversity. God warns us that we will become what we focus on. If we focus on resentment and hatred for the pain that others have inflicted, we will poison our own hearts. However, the love of God is not burdened by bitterness and resentment. Through our suffering, then we can identify with him. As Paul said, “that I may know him and the fellowship of his suffering.” Isaiah 41:10 says,“ Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”
The calling of God is to mold us and shape us after his will. Either we deliberately choose to let God help himself to our lives, or the devil will have his way with us. When we choose to walk according to the spirit of life in Christ, the Holy Spirit will check us in our thoughts and actions. His spirit will admonish us to seek the Lord and not the comfort of our own flesh. He will call us to a more worthy endeavor…to let go and let God. The heart of a disciple says, “show me your ways O Lord. Lead me to your paths. On you I wait all the day long. For thou art the God of my salvation. That I may live for thy honor and glory. O Lord, remember your tender mercy and loving kindness…Remember me for your goodness sake.”
Hebrews 9 says that It is appointed for all men once to die. And then comes the judgement. Christians will be judged righteous because of the righteous payment Jesus made for sin on our behalf. God gives us an open invitation to surrender our lives to him. He will teach us through trials to turn to him. The question is not whether we will suffer. Suffering is inevitable. We can choose to understand suffering as a gift…to prove that Joy is not the absence of pain…Rather that Joy is to walk in His presence. For thy grace is made perfect in my weakness. Thy grace is sufficient for me.
May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael