Key word #2 Joy
“When troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.”
If one's goal is to become mature in Christ, and if that is a goal far higher and more valuable than merely avoiding hardships, or escaping from them, then indeed consider it joy when you meet the trials by which you attain that treasured goal. Joy is an attitude choice no matter the circumstances because if one is walking with God, Psalm 16:11 tells us that in God’s presence is fullness of joy.
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”
Dallas Willard in his book “Renovation of the Heart,” describes it so well. “Joy is a pervasive sense of delight in an encompassing good well-secured. For joy, all is well, even in the midst of specific suffering and loss. Self-sacrificial love is therefore always joyous – no matter the pain and loss it may involve. For we are always looking at the larger scene in which love rules: Where all things (no matter what ) work together for good to those who love God and are drawn into His purposeful actions on earth. Joy is a basic element of inner transformation into Christ-likeness and of the outer life that flows from it.”
It has been said that joy is the finest of heart and mind tonics; it gives new jest to life; it is the song of the heart.
We’re not viewing joy as a rah rah emotional high. Joy feels different to different people.When I’m sensing God’s presence, my joy feels more like contentment. Joy is available even when in adversity, not for adversity, but IN. If we were rejoicing for a hardship, that would be called “masochism” (deriving pleasure from being mistreated in some way).
Consider it joy when you meet the trials by which you attain that treasured goal of completeness.. Though joy is a fruit of he Spirit, it is our responsibility to appropriate it and put it into action. Rejoice! We are called to joy – even in tough times.
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