“For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms30:5.

“Don’t worry, be happy” was a popular saying some years back; I surmise it meant, regardless of your life circumstances, just be happy in it all. 

But that idea is not very realistic. Happiness is an elevated good feeling or positive mental state…but unfortunately, our emotions are varied, they go and come according to what is occurring in our lives at the time; you can be happy one moment and extremely sad the next.

As born-again believers, we have something far greater than the feelings of mere “happiness” to sustain and keep us during the rises and falls of life’s circumstances. The gift of Joy is not dependent on our feelings or mental state. Joy comes from the fruit developed in us by the Holy Spirit and is based on our relationship with Christ, our Savior. 

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.”

I do not know about you, but I am so glad that our relationship is secured forever! “My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” John 10:29. As the old folks would sing… “This joy that I have, the world didn’t give it to me, and the world can’t take it away!”

The apostle Paul was a prime example of God’s joy sustaining him in the toughest of circumstances. The entire book of Philippians and several other epistles of his were written from a prison cell. Only by the amazing grace of God and His sustaining power could he write words of hope, strength, and comfort from the walls of a dungeon!  

Imagine the difficult conditions Paul faced, imprisoned and ever aware that death could be imminent, was quite heart-wrenching, yet he endured. His faithful stance of encouragement was for all who read his letters then, as it is today in times of trials and tribulation: “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. 

My friends, it is the faithful promises and sovereign power of God that guides us safely through this life. He lives within every born-again believer, teaching, comforting, guiding, protecting, and giving us the victory; He is far greater than any challenge  or hardship that we may face in this world. 

Therefore, hope and peace are ours because of His lovingkindness and renewed mercy towards us each day. “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” Psalms 30:5

It is God’s great joy that provides a peace way deep down in our souls that surpasses all understanding. His power lifts us up and reminds us that we belong to Him and that nothing, absolutely nothing, will ever sever that bond-the joy of the Lord is our strength!

Today, let’s find comfort, peace, hope, and encouragement in the promise found in Romans 8:35-39, which says:

“Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

The well-known gospel song “Joy” reminds us of the beautiful, soul-saving joy that is way down deep in our souls! 

God’s great joy

Joy, joy

Down in my soul

Sweet, beautiful, soul-saving joy

Ohhhhh joy in my soul

May God’s blessings and joy be with all of us.