Where do we find pure joy? Let’s not confuse joy with happiness. It’s not to say that joy does not bring happiness, just that they are two different things. James tells us that we should “consider it pure joy when ever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.” James 1:2-3.,
I find joy in the laughter of my children when they are not aware I’m listening. There is joy in a sunrise or a birds song. Joy can be found deep in our souls when the Lord has answered our prayers. It may not be what we think the answer should have been, but when there is no doubt that the answer has come, there is joy. We know then, that we are not alone and that the Lord has heard us and taken compassion on us.
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But how do we find joy in suffering? Today is the 6 month anniversary of the terrible tragedies that struck New York and Washington DC. Where do we find joy in the death of so many? Of course, those who were believers in Christ are with Him now, so we can have joy in that and look forward to that for ourselves. But what about those who were not? What joy can we hold in our hearts for that? I think the joy we can hold here is simply that God is in control. There are some things which will always be a mystery to us in our feeble human minds.
It’s nice to relinquish control to someone more powerful or
stronger; someone who has the answer even if it’s something we don’t understand. And we know that our God is a merciful God; that not one of those people died in vain. It was all part of our Lord’s wonderful plan. We will miss those who have left us, but we will always have the knowledge that even in the midst of terrible trouble and pain, Jesus is with us, even until the end of the age. So sing and laugh and give thanks to the God who holds us in His arms like a loving Father and protects us from evil and keeps us in His heart until the end of our days or the end of the age. Be joyful.
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