How to Experience Joy in Spite of Heartache
Been beaten, put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, and gone without food how can a man named Paul experience so much heart ache, but always have joy (2 Corinthians 6:5, 10)? How can we in our times of pain and trials be also joyful? There are many answers to these two questions, the first solution is obedience.
When we obey Gods commands, we remain in Christs love, which provides access to Christs overflowing joy (John 15:9-11). Letting the Holy Spirit control our lives allows the fruit of the spirit joy, love, and peace be produced in our lives (Galatians 5:22). As Psalms 119:2 says, Happy are those who obey His decrees and search for Him all their hearts.
Obedience to Christ also brings stability in our lives, even when the world around us is collapsing. Luke 6:46-49 says, a person who comes to Christ, listens to His teachings, and obeys Him is like someone who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who listens and doesnt obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins. To find stability in the midst of the floodwaters of sadness and adversity, we must listen and obey Gods teachings like those of Ephesians 6:10-18. We must, according to that passage, be strong with the Lords mighty power by putting on the whole armor of God, so we can overcome the devil, who tries to use tragedy to destroy us emotionally.
I lift you, you lift me, and together, well ascend that, in addition to obedience and putting on the armor of God, is how we find victory over life struggles (Quaker quote). Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, You have greatly encouraged me; you have made me happy despite all our troubles. If we only obey Gods command to love one another as thyself, we will not only find joy from remaining in Christs love, but also possibly become an inspiration to another to experience the same joyfulness. If everyone would just be obedient to their God-given purpose and love their neighbor as thyself, much of the worlds sorrows and instability would go away.
In this world, there are houses (my life, your life, our lives, mankind, etc.) that constantly have floodwaters (adversity, sadness, fear) beating against them, threatening to crumble the foundation. Obedience to Christ, putting on the armor of God, and loving thy neighbor through Him are the right adhesives, to keep the house firm against the waves. To love like Jesus and to have Gods power to overcome the devil, we must abide in Christ which demands obedience. If we dont, our house and foundation would become like the branch that is apart from the Vine, unfruitful and powerless (John 15:1-8), forced to endure a cruel world alone.
Been beaten, put in jail, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, and gone without food how can a man named Paul experience so much heart ache, but always have joy (2 Corinthians 6:5, 10)? How can we in our times of pain and trials be also joyful? There are many answers to these two questions, the first solution is obedience.
When we obey Gods commands, we remain in Christs love, which provides access to Christs overflowing joy (John 15:9-11). Letting the Holy Spirit control our lives allows the fruit of the spirit joy, love, and peace be produced in our lives (Galatians 5:22). As Psalms 119:2 says, Happy are those who obey His decrees and search for Him all their hearts.
Obedience to Christ also brings stability in our lives, even when the world around us is collapsing. Luke 6:46-49 says, a person who comes to Christ, listens to His teachings, and obeys Him is like someone who builds a house on a strong foundation laid upon the underlying rock. When the floodwaters rise and break against that house, it stands firm because it is well built. But anyone who listens and doesnt obey is like a person who builds a house without a foundation. When the floods sweep down against that house, it will crumble into a heap of ruins. To find stability in the midst of the floodwaters of sadness and adversity, we must listen and obey Gods teachings like those of Ephesians 6:10-18. We must, according to that passage, be strong with the Lords mighty power by putting on the whole armor of God, so we can overcome the devil, who tries to use tragedy to destroy us emotionally.
I lift you, you lift me, and together, well ascend that, in addition to obedience and putting on the armor of God, is how we find victory over life struggles (Quaker quote). Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, You have greatly encouraged me; you have made me happy despite all our troubles. If we only obey Gods command to love one another as thyself, we will not only find joy from remaining in Christs love, but also possibly become an inspiration to another to experience the same joyfulness. If everyone would just be obedient to their God-given purpose and love their neighbor as thyself, much of the worlds sorrows and instability would go away.
In this world, there are houses (my life, your life, our lives, mankind, etc.) that constantly have floodwaters (adversity, sadness, fear) beating against them, threatening to crumble the foundation. Obedience to Christ, putting on the armor of God, and loving thy neighbor through Him are the right adhesives, to keep the house firm against the waves. To love like Jesus and to have Gods power to overcome the devil, we must abide in Christ which demands obedience. If we dont, our house and foundation would become like the branch that is apart from the Vine, unfruitful and powerless (John 15:1-8), forced to endure a cruel world alone.
