I’ve been reading over some older posts. Thinking I should update them or edit them or something. However, because they are life posts. I can’t really edit or update without changing more than I’d like. One such post is on Joy. I wrote it last December.
I had been struggling with the holiday season without daddy and it kept me up one night. That’s when I wrote “Joy”. I had realized as Christmas was coming that I was looking forward to it. It was a wonderful realization since grief had monopolized so much of my life the previous 2 years.
Now the holidays are here again. November is almost over and I am again looking forward to Christmas, but I can’t say I have Joy. I had wanted to make Joy my goal in 2016, but somehow I missed that goal or at least I feel as though I had. Some good things happened this year, but Joy wasn’t the central theme of my heart. A recent sermon at church made me think about the year and I am pretty sure I missed out on Joy.
Our Pastor preached on Rejoice Always. He said that we are to have joy in all things as the word says. However, it seems most christians do not have joy. We do not rejoice always. I think he’s right. It’s true. We do not rejoice always. I’ve added the link so you can watch the 30 minute ish sermon, The Choice of Joy, by Pastor Aaron Burtner, Elma CMA.
So Why?
So many christians live with anxiety and fear, even depression. I understand that some depression is a chemical imbalance issue, but so much of our depression is situational. We sometimes choose to live in fear, with anxiety and depression.
Things like rain. Having no money. Not having the job we want. Working to much. Not working enough. Not having a job at all. Trouble with family members. Loss of a loved one. All those things can bring us down cause anxiety, fear and depression. But the word says in 1 Thessalonians 5:16 to REJOICE ALWAYS.
As believers we are to count it pure joy when we face trials. We are to choose Joy. Even when life is sometimes be one big trial.
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Why do you suppose the Lord asks us to consider our trials pure joy? Doesn’t He understand this is hard? Doesn’t He understand my anxiety? My fear? My insecurities?
Isaiah 41:10 So do not fear, for I am with you;do not be dismayed, for I am your God I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Of course He understands. He says HE will be with us. That HE is our God and HE will Strengthen us and help us. HE will uphold us with HIS right hand.
So then if all that is so, why do we have anxiety, fear and insecurities? Why do we not have pure joy? I think it is because we forget. We forget He is here with us always. We can’t see Him so we forget He is here to help us, strengthen us and uphold us with HIs right hand.
We get distracted by all our worries and before we know it, the day is done and we haven’t sought the Lord. We haven’t read the Word or prayed much at all. We lay our head down at night with no peace, hope or joy just to do it all over again the next day.
I am a strong willed women and I can do all things on my own.. Or so I think I can. The crazy thing is that when I try to do things on my own. Things like, have no fear, anxiety or insecurities, I fail. I can’t make those things go away by myself. I strive to be a Proverbs 31 woman, but I cant do it on my own.
Jeremiah 17:9 “The heart is deceitful above all things, And desperately wicked; Who can know it?
I need outside support. Without His help, I am a shame filled, sinful, deceitful, hopeless person.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
So once again, as the end of another year comes and goes. As 2017 comes in soon, I will make a CHOICE to REJOICE ALWAYS. To CONSIDER IT PURE JOY when ever I face trials. At least I hope I will. To DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH. I hope you will too.
Prayer
Lord please help me, lift me up with your right hand during the next year. Lord, give me wisdom to consider my trails with Joy. Remind me Lord to give all my trials to you, to seek you and your strength. Amen.
Action
What is one way you can seek to REJOICE ALWAYS? Leave your thoughts in the “Leave a comment” link above this post.
In Christ ♥ Sabrina
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