Please enjoy today’s blog that has been written by Sarah Primus. She pastors alongside her husband Paul, at Keystone Victoria here in Victoria B.C. I am confident your hearts will be strengthened and encouraged.
Blessings, Jeanne.
Romans 14:17 tells us that the Kingdom of God is not in eating and drinking but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. As we enter into communion and fellowship with Jesus by the Holy Spirit, joy is an unwavering reality that we can lean into.
In some seasons, joy seems to bubble up from our hearts so easily— but other seasons not so much. I’m also sure we’ve all had a “count it all joy when you fall under various trials” (James 1:7) moment at some point in the past two years. These are the moments we choose joy rather than feel joyous. Our natural mind tells us that joy is the result of seasons where everything is going our way, but on the contrary, the Bible tells us that our greatest joy often comes on the other side of greatest pain. It was for the joy that was set before Jesus that He endured the cross scorning its shame (Hebrews 12:2).
Jesus warned His disciples of the sorrow they would experience at His departure from earth:
“Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.” (John 16:20) Rather than preventing their sorrow, Jesus encourages them that their greatest sorrow would result in their greatest joy.
To strengthen His thought, He uses an example that many of us women are familiar with:
“When a woman is giving birth, she has sorrow because her hour has come, but when she has delivered the baby, she no longer remembers the anguish, for joy that a human being has been born into the world. So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:21-22) The pain of child birth cannot compare to the joy experienced as you hold a beautiful newborn baby in your arms. In the same way, the Lord leads us through seasons of pain knowing that on the other side we will have the joy that cannot be taken from us. Jesus promised the disciples that they would experience the joy of His indwelling Spirit. He would reveal Himself to them in a greater capacity. He would also use them to “birth” or bring forth His kingdom on earth. This promise remains for us today. He has given Himself to us as our joy, and He will never leave us nor forsake us. He will also use us to manifest Himself to a world that needs joy that cannot be taken from them.
I pray that if you are reading this and find yourself in a season of trial and sorrow that the joy of the Lord would be your strength. May you have eyes to see the joy set before you. May you be aware of His nearness in the midst of trial. God grant you grace to choose joy. Though weeping last for the night, there is joy coming in the morning (Psalm 30:5).