I John 1:4, “And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.”
God wants us to have joy in our lives. Wow – what a great thing! God loves us and desires for us to be happy even while we are living in an unsettled and sinful world. This is an amazingly comforting truth.
The dictionary defines ‘JOY’ as an intense or elated happiness, a source of great pleasure. Now we often misinterpret this truth and put a completely different spin on it. We can read into this verse that God does not want us to have any hardships or problems in our lives. Everything in life will be smooth and easy. WRONG! Freedom from conflict isn’t what God is promising. What He does promise is that if we keep our eyes on Him and believe that He is in control of all that happens in our lives, we can be happy and have joy in spite of all the problems.
It seems that the disappointments and hardships of life can so often cause us to be down in the dumps emotionally. The ‘whys’ of life can seem to be overwhelming at times. Why does everything seem to be going wrong, why am I sick, why can’t I pay my bills, why ____________you fill in the blank. We all have our own questions that we are tempted to ask God when things are not going well.
Now, I have a challenge for you – instead of the whys, start with the thanksgivings. Not for the problems but for the fact that God is with you and He is in control. He knows all about what you are facing. He has promised in Romans 8:28 to work everything out for your good. He has a plan and a purpose. Remember, I Thessalonians 5:8 , “In everything give thanks”.
It is God’s desire for us to be thankful. Look through the problems and see God. Believe He is working even when you cannot see it. THIS IS TRUST IN ACTION. This is the faith that will bring joy to your life – even in the most trying of circumstances!
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