Joy – in Sorrow?

JOY – IN SORROW?

Quote: “We cannot cure the world of sorrows, but we can choose to live in joy.” – Joseph Campbell

Scripture:  Romans 15:13 – “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Some Thoughts:  The third candle in the Advent wreath is “Joy”.  But sometimes we find it hard to recognize joy when we are carrying a load of grief and heaviness.  There is a book I’ve used in grief counseling called “Don’t Sing Songs to a Heavy Heart.” It can feel trite or it can feel like we’re looking through rose-colored glasses to say to a grief-stricken person: “Just give it to Jesus.”  Yet, that is what Jesus did!  His heart was grieved and He went alone to the garden and poured out His heart to the Father.  This is what the famous psalmist, David, did – over and over and over again!  We read, “I will lift my eyes.  Where does my help come from?”

We can still experience joy, even in the midst of sorrow.  There is a verse that reads “Joy comes in the morning”.  (I looked it up to make sure it wasn’t one of those “verses” that really isn’t in the Bible, ha!) Psalm 30:5 NLT – “Weeping may last through the night, but joy comes with the morning.” 

What is the best way to experience joy?  First of all, we pour out our feelings to Jesus.  We admit that we are grieving and carrying a heavy load.

Secondly, we need to be intentional to “look for the good things” for which we are grateful.  Ann Voskamp, one of my favorite authors, writes: “Even though, good things can still be birthed.  You can spend your one life in a waiting room, waiting to be finally called in to another life, to see more joy, more fulfillment, more of the abundant life you dreamed of — but you miss out on fully living the joy of your life today, when you keep waiting for another life to make you joyful.  If you aren’t noticeably grateful with what you have right now, why think you’d be noticeably more joyful when you have more?” – Ann Voskamp

Thirdly, I am reminded of the Scripture in Acts 20:35 NIV where Paul states: “In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ” When we intentionally pour ourselves into someone else’s life, intentionally listening, loving, empathizing or sympathizing with them, we are blessed and we find joy.

Think of someone who is struggling with finding hope and joy in his/her life right now.  Pray Romans 15:13 over them, inserting that person’s name.  “May the God of hope fill (person’s name) with all joy and peace as (he/she) trusts in Him, so that (person’s name) may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

Prayer:  Lord, You are always waiting for us to “lift our eyes” to You.  “What a privilege to carry everything to You in prayer.”  I pray for those who do not know You.  I can only imagine the heavy burdens they are trying to carry on their own.  Lord, I pray that Your Holy Spirit will speak, convict, and draw their thoughts to You.  Would You make them aware of Your presence and Your great love and longing that “none should perish?”  Lord Jesus, give me boldness to speak of Whom my hope is built upon.  I ask that You bring an end to suffering, but I also want to be in the center of Your will and purpose for what You are accomplishing.  So I pray, “Amen” which in the early Hebrew language means “so be it.”  Jesus, thank You for speaking peace in the midst of chaos.  Thank You for making it possible for us to have an altar in our hearts where we come directly to Your throne with our hurts, heartaches, petitions, praise, and worship.  Our prayers are important to You.  Help us to be grateful and to find joy in each day we have left on this earth.  We know that we will have inexpressible joy when we reach our eternal home, but we don’t have to “wait” for that time in order to experience joy right now.  Thank You for making that possible.  You are the true Joygiver!

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