His wrath, you see, is fleeting, but His grace lasts a
lifetime. The deepest pains may linger through the night, but joy greets the
soul with the smile of morning. Psalms
30:5
When I was a child, I learned a song called, “I’ve Got the Joy!”
It’s also known as, “Down in My Heart.” It’s a cute little song, where children
can get caught up in the yelling of the word, “Where!” Well, of course the
place we find joy is, “down in my heart.” It’s difficult to sing this song with
a frown, especially when we are singing the words, “I have the wonderful love
of my blessed Redeemer, way down in the depths of my heart.” That is a
mouthful. I believe that if our mouths are full of rejoicing, there is little
room for anything else.
With Christ in our lives, we can decide to have joy even
when we are not especially happy. Happy depends on happenings, joy is a state
of being. We can spiritually choose joy.
I recently read a book where a man with bitterness of soul,
poured out his grief to God. God listened, and told this man, “You are looking
so much at your pain, that you cannot see me.”
In the Bible, Paul was placed in a dirty, dark cell,
shackled to the wall. Even in that darkness, he kept his eyes focused on Jesus,
instead of his surroundings. Had he only looked with his physical eyes, he
would have given in to the pain, but Paul saw past his situations to focus on
the spiritual realm. Everything around him was deplorable, yet he still chose
joy.
It is told that Paul sang songs of praise, maybe one similar
to, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart.” Deep down in Paul’s
heart, beyond his situation, he had joy that could never be taken away. His joy
was sealed in his heart, the day he gave that heart to Christ. He even told the
Philippian believers to rejoice in all circumstances. He then repeated it,
driving home the point of rejoicing always.
We need to look past our situations and place our eyes on
Jesus. If not, we will sink in the water of wretched desperation, just as assuredly
as Peter began to sink in the water, the moment he took his eyes off Christ.
Sharing our pain with other Christians, so that they can
lift us up in prayer is fine. Paul shared his suffering with believers, and in
turn they participated in his affliction which Paul found admirable. However,
if we continue to wallow in self-pity, it accomplishes nothing. It does not
change the situation.
When the pain is so
overwhelming, we need to be honest with the Lord, ask Him to part the darkness
enough so that we can see Him. We can even take time to mourn, because the
Bible tells us there is a season for sorrow. Ecclesiastes 3: 4 says there is,
“A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”
As we relax in the arms of Jesus, He will carry us through
the muck and mire to the joy that comes in the morning. On our journey, we can
sing with gusto, “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart!”
Dearest Lord,
Thank you for your joy which surpasses all understanding.
Amen
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