How to have JOY in spite of Difficulties & People

[WISDOM]

Nehemiah 8:10.......

Many Christians today wonder how they can be joyful in the midst of disappointment and heartache. I posted Nehemiah's verse above from the Old Testament because it tells us how to be happy in a world of unhappiness.

YOU and I should never look at the negative side of difficulties, but instead we should try to find the good in the most undesirable of circumstances. As crazy as it sounds, we should NOT let the circumstances DICTATE our feelings, like so many of us do! If we are honest, all of us feel a lot happier when things are "going our way". And, we are much easier to live with. However, we need to realize that most of the difficulties of life ARE NOT under our control.

YOU have no control over the weather, traffic, trains, or the economy. So why "sweat " it? If you are the type of person whose happiness depends on ideal circumstances, you will be miserable most of the time! It's a fact of life and our FATHER never promise you or I that life would be a bowl of cherries. What HE did promise is that HE would be WITH US through EVERY circumstance in life we'd face. HE also promised that HIS JOY would be our strength.

One of the things I've found to be very helpful in maintaining my joy is something very simple.....imitate my LORD/SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. Don't be selfish, and in humility consider others BEFORE yourself. Basically, you should not only look out for your own interest, but ALSO the interests of others, and try to do everything WITHOUT complaining and arguing. Don't allow the attitudes of others and things to dictate your actions. Too many Christians get wrapped up in "things", and lose the joy they should have in CHRIST. We should remember the word, "TEMPORAL". Nothing here in this life last forever, and will not give YOU the joy you seek that is only found in JESUS CHRIST.

We too often forget that JESUS said: "A man's life consisteth NOT in the abundance of the things which he possesseth" (Luke 12:15). Yet most people today believe real joy comes from jobs, cars, houses, land, or money. Well, fact is.....it doesn't. And along these lines, so many Christians get caught up in WORRY. What is "Worry"?? It is the greatest enemy of Christian JOY. It is mental distress. It is the complete opposite of FAITH. And like YOU, I too get caught up in it from time to time. It leads to headaches, neck pains, ulcers, and digestive problems. What is it and what can we do to free ourselves of this and retain our joy in CHRIST?

Here are my thoughts.....when we take things to the LORD in prayer with a POSITIVE ATTITUDE, believing HE will take care of things, we don't have to worry about them. Hey listen, YOU are not perfect in yourself, but you are in CHRIST! You can believe in your mind that you are brother or sister "Super-Christian", but still fight inwardly with DOUBT involuntarily. But trust me when I say to you that our LORD knows, and wants to always help in restoring YOUR joy (Hebrews 4:15-16).

The minute negative thoughts come into your mind to rob you of your joy, take it to the LORD in prayer. Negative thinking leads to negative feelings, and before long the heart and mind are PULLED APART, and we are strangled by worry. Negatives thoughts lead to unrest and depression, but Christian positive thinking will lead to peace and victory. Our minds should be on things that can build us up AND build others up when these things are shared. There must be positive living if YOU are to overcome worry and experience SPIRITUAL JOY. Head knowledge IS NOT enough!

Christian joy is not freedom from problems or burdens, but the ability to be joyful in spite of them. YOU know what a "joy-robber" WORRY is. In fact, worry has serious physical consequences, and though medicine can remove the symptoms, it CANNOT remove the CAUSE. Worry is an inside job. YOU can buy something to make you sleep, BUT you cannot buy anything to make you rest.

GOD's joy is remarkable in that it can heal and empower the most downtrodden soul. This comes also from strong association with YOUR fellow brothers/sisters in CHRIST. If Christians would associate together, speaking to each other of the LOVE of GOD, and of the precious truths of redemption, their own hearts would be refreshed, and in the process would refresh one another. If you shut yourself up with your pain and lack of joy, YOU are not fulfilling the position that our FATHER designed you should.

Our FATHER wants you and I to be daily filled with HIS joy, and not be caught up in past failures (Philippians 3:13-14). By faith, we may look to the hereafter, and grasp the pledge of our LORD for a growth of intellect, the human faculties uniting with the divine , and every power of the soul being brought into direct contact with the SOURCE of our JOY. We may rejoice that all which has perplexed us in this life through the providences of GOD will then be made plain and clear to us.....things hard to be understood will then find an explanation; and where our finite minds discovered ONLY confusion and broken purposes, YOU and I shall see the most perfect and beautiful harmony (1 Corinthians 13:12). The JOY of the LORD is YOUR strength!!

[ginakay]

Thanks Wisdom, I enjoyed the post and fully agree that the joy of the Lord is something we can have even if we are experiencing sorrow, pain, troubles etc.

[serotta]

This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it!

Pass it on!!!

[rockswillcryout]

That is, by far, one of the best posts I've ever read on this forum.

Thanks for sharing, Wisdom.

[traveller]

[gypc]

Praise God!! I'm seeing a bigtime balence on this board.

Great thread!!! We need to keep this at the top cause we all need this deep down in our spirit.

[WayneB]

What gives me Joy? Who is my refuge? In whom do I place my trust?

Who is the source of my strength..in good and in bad times? Who do I turn to when I act poorly; when I stumble, who catches me?

Psalm 73

23 Yet I am always with you;

you hold me by my right hand.

24 You guide me with your counsel,

and afterward you will take me into glory.

25 Whom have I in heaven but you?

And earth has nothing I desire besides you.

26 My flesh and my heart may fail,

but God is the strength of my heart

and my portion forever.

27 Those who are far from you will perish;

you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.

28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.

I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;

I will tell of all your deeds.

True JOY is directly proportional to the amount of time we spend with the Father. The psalmist said "always"... although I cannot say the same, that is what I desire!

Blessings,

Wayne

[refugepsa91]

:hug: what a wonderful post....one of those that you feel right down to your toes puts a lump in my throat too.

Love and Blessings,

Angel

[jabner]

Psalm 27

The Lord si my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell.

3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

4 One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in his temple.

5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion; in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord.

7 Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, Lord, will I seek.

9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take me up.

11 Teach me thy way, O Lord, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies.

12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty.

13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

14 Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and he shall stengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord.

[WayneB]

Praise His NAME!!

Welcome brother jabner to the boards.

At one time, Psalms was my least favorite book in the Bible. Oh what a fool I was! Today, I go to the Psalms to refresh my spirit and strengthen my faith...throughout them, we find the JOY of the LORD. Even in the midst of his enemies and burdened by trials and tribulations, David experienced true JOY in the LORD.

We can do the same, all GLORY to GOD!

Bless you,

Wayne