Category Archives: Suffering/Trials

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7 Secrets to a Joy-Filled Life

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7SecretsJoyFilledLife
I’d like to tell you a story today about a man I know who is deeply joyful. His name is John and he lives in a rural village in Ghana, West Africa.

When I came to his home, he didn’t own a shirt for his own back, but he bought me a Coke with the money he had. My friends and I sat on the dirt floor of his small home (probably the size of one of the bedrooms in our current home) and listened as he enthusiastically shared about the grace and goodness of God in his life.

He worked long days in the fields as a farmer to feed his family and was proud of his hard work. He was thankful for his family, his small home, and the food God provided each day.

He didn’t even have a shirt on his back, but he was joyful.

Meeting John (and others like him in Africa) changed me. They showed me that you don’t need a lot of stuff to be joyful, but you do need God.

Seven Secrets to Joy-Filled Living

Since we often mistake happiness for joy, here are seven secrets from God’s Word that teach us how we, too, can live joy-filled lives:

1. Biblical joy is not the same as a feeling or moment of happiness. We are happy when we go to our favorite restaurant, spend a fun day with our best friend, or have someone surprise us with our favorite dessert. We are happy when circumstances are in our favor, but we can have joy independent of them: “You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound” – Psalm 4:7.

In a culture that elevates personal happiness above loving God and others, this is important to clarify.

2. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit of God in our lives. We cannot muster up joy in our own strength. Joy comes as a fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit of God in our lives.

3. Joy blossoms in the soil of gratitude and thankfulness to God. Psalm 107:22 says, “And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving,and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!” A heart that is grateful to God for his friendship and undeserved blessings will overflow with thanksgiving and joy!

4. Joy comes as we encounter God’s presence. “…in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” – Psalm 16:11. Maybe circumstances aren’t going too well for us. Maybe we’ve even been through a very difficult loss or trial. But when we draw near to God and realize that He is with us and will never leave, our joy overflows.

5. Joy comes through enduring trials. While it may seem counter-intuitive, Scripture tells us clearly that we ought to “Count it all joy…when you face trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” – James 1:2-3. We don’t rejoice in the pain of our trials. We rejoice as we focus on the fruits that come from enduring such trials well – spiritual growth and maturity.

6. Joy comes as we encounter the message of the Gospel (again and again). When we press our knees into the soil at the foot of the Cross and see – amazed! what Christ endured on our behalf – when we see that we are loved this much! forgiven this much! When we see that we have been spared the wrath of the Father that we so deserve, our hearts cannot help but to be filled with awe, gratitude, joy unspeakable.

7. Joy is eternal. While happiness is temporal, the joy we have in Christ is eternal. John 16:22 says, “So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” I cannot fully imagine the joy we will have when Christ returns to this earth. We will rejoice at His coming and no one will be able to steal our joy!

As C.S. Lewis says, “Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” My friend, will you choose the constancy of joy today? Or will you settle for moments of temporary happiness? It’s up to you!

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What I’ve Learned From My Grandmother About Aging Well

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gigima.abigail

She sat with her hands folded quietly in her lap, smiling and laughing at the children, interjecting in conversation with her quick wit and often humorous remarks. I took a long look at this beautiful woman who has lived almost triple my lifetime.

This is my 94 year old grandmother, Anna Mary. I have learned many, many things from her, but these are some of the things I have learned from her about aging well:

She Doesn’t Complain

Now, I am sure that there are moments for her. We all have moments. But I have never heard her complain, really. She is a very thankful woman, full of gratitude for her life and the many gifts that God has given to her. She experiences pain regularly now, but I don’t see it keeping her down.

She Rejoices in the Moment

My grandmother is aware of the brevity of life. She knows she isn’t promised tomorrow (none of us are). She flew from GA to Maryland to be here for my children’s birthday party. She soaked in every moment with every person she came in contact with – especially her great-grandchildren.

She Doesn’t Want a Re-do on Life

She is a content woman. She had “the best husband I could have ever asked for” and she has now “the most wonderful daughter and son-in-law” among all her other blessings. While she definitely has gone through many hardships and life hasn’t always dealt her an “easy hand,” she would never go back and ask for a re-do. She is satisfied with her life – a life well-lived.

She Delights in Her Legacy

My grandmother is not a poor woman, but she definitely doesn’t have millions to her name. What she has is a solid, unwavering faith in Jesus Christ, a loving daughter and son-in-law, friends and neighbors, two grandchildren, and – perhaps her biggest legacy of all – her six great-grandchildren. She loves telling me about little moments that she has with each one of them, ways they make her laugh or impress her with their sharp wit (I mean, who did they get it from, right?) She relishes in every kiss and every card they make her.

She Has Never Lost Her Sass

My grandma is one of the funniest people I’ve ever met. She is the only one who, in a room full of 10 adults who are all thinking the same thing, will actually say what is on her mind without holding back. She doesn’t just say anything, though.

She knows when to hold her tongue but she speaks the truth when no one else feels they can or when she has a strong opinion on a matter and because of her age and her confidence, people shut up and listen. And I love her for it.

She is a Prayerful Woman

Grandma prays for each of us every day. She looks to the Lord daily for strength, help, and wisdom. She truly loves God and seeks Him faithfully.

She is Ready for Heaven

A week ago, when she was here at my house, she said to me, “I keep asking the Lord why He doesn’t take me home yet. I don’t know. I haven’t figured it out. I’m ready to go!” I quipped back, “Well, Grandma, I know I’m glad that you’re here with us right now – to be with your great-grandchildren and make memories with them.”

She is not afraid of death and eternity. She knows to whom she belongs and where she is going when she dies. And she’s ready whenever He wants to take her.

Whether you are 16, 37, or 60, we each have been given a gift of life and a choice of how we will invest today – the only day we know we’ve been given. When you are 94, what do you want your legacy to be? What do you want others to see when they look back on your life?

One thing I know is that I’m taking some tips on that from my Grandmother.

 

 

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3 Words of Truth for Times of Trial

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truthfortrial

“On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was…And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” ~ Mark 4:35-41

Lord, Don’t You Care???

When I read this story, I can almost feel the heightened anxiety of the disciples in the boat with Jesus. Here they were, in the middle of a great storm, probably doing everything they could to stay afloat and….Jesus was sleeping.

When we are going through a difficult circumstance or situation where we need God’s help and He doesn’t appear to be “waking up” to do anything about it (i.e. relieve our pain! calm this storm!), we may want to say like the disciples on the boat, “Don’t you care that we are perishing??”

sadgirl

Don’t you care that my marriage is falling apart?

Don’t you care that I lost my job?

Don’t you care that my brother is very, very sick? (think Mary and Martha here)

Don’t you care that I haven’t had a full night’s sleep in months? (think “new mom” here)

A God Who is Awake to Our Problems

We serve a God who is awake to our problems. He is not indifferent to the suffering of humanity and the trial that you are facing this very day. Here are three promises from God’s Word to cling to when you feel like the storms of life are crashing in:

1. God is With You

Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
    I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
    and the flame shall not consume you.
For I am the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, your Savior. ~ Isaiah 43:1-3

This passage of Scripture has carried me through many a trial.  This trial will not overwhelm you (the Hebrew word here means “engulf” or “sweep away”) or consume you. God is with you – take heart!

2. God Will Never Forsake You

One of the most powerful promises in the Bible says what our fearful hearts need to hear more than anything: “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” ~ Hebrews 13:5

The word “forsake” in the Greek literally means “leave behind in” – to be left behind in a perilous or difficult moment. To be abandoned. When we choose to put our trust in Christ, He promises never to abandon us in our trials.

3. The Testing of Your Faith Produces Steadfastness

“Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.“~ James 1:2-4

Look back over your journey with the Lord. What trials has He carried you through already? Are you spiritually stronger for having gone through them?

Friend, God has not abandoned you in your trial. He is with you, holding your hand, ready to strengthen your faith with each difficult step. And He wants you to grow closer to Him and more like Him through the process.

“There are some of your graces which would never be discovered if it were not for your trials.” – Charles Haddon Spurgeon

 

 

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