I Don’t “feel” Joy… (Rejoice in the Lord-Day 3)
OPENING PRAYER:
Heavenly Father, I pray as David cried out to you in Psalm 94:19, NIV, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.” For some days, I cannot go on but “I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth,” (Psalm 121:1,2, NIV).
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith – of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire – may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory, and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,” I Peter 1:6-8 (NIV)
REFLECT:
In May of 2016, Kyle, a graduate from Kansas State University, came to work for me as an accountant. Kyle was an energetic young man, fun-loving, full of passion for the Lord and life. This was illustrated by time he had spent in China on mission’s work, during one of his semesters of study at K-State. While he had a heart for the lost, he also had a unique sense of humor. There were occasions that office hijinks occurred; and many times, he was linked to them. Wherever he was, he brightened the room. Whatever difficulties or gloominess swept in, Kyle subdued them. He was a joy to lead and a joy to be around.
As our office left for Thanksgiving break in November of that year, Kyle went home to Ulysses to be with his family. Only, he never made it. Tragically, on the way home, he crossed a main highway and evidently did not see an oncoming semi-truck. In an instant, Kyle was taken from this world. His parents have two other children, but the loss of Kyle still grieves them today. Each Thanksgiving I reach out to Kyle’s dad, checking on them, expressing my anticipation of seeing him in eternity one day. That does not fill the void of a parent who has lost a child, but it reminds us that this life is not our home. II Corinthians 5:4, NIV, says “For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.”
Earthy tragedies, like the loss of Kyle, are woven into the life stories of many of us. The challenge then is to “find joy” that is not dependent on circumstances. When things go well, it may seem easy to have joy. When the world around us crumbles, we would prefer to stay in despair. Psalm 42:5-6, NIV, says “Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise him, my savior and my God.” Jesus stands ready to fill us afresh with his presence. Let him fill you today.
APPLY:
Have you, or someone you know, faced great tragedy this past year? Do you know of people struggling to grab hold of the Lord’s joy? Be patient with them. Pray for them and let them know you are thinking of them and that you care. Do not pontificate platitudes of how God will use this to make them stronger and to build them for something more one day…those words do not erase the pain of the present, nor do they demonstrate empathy for the difficulties these people suffer. Have a listening ear, an available shoulder to cry on and most of all, exhibit the love of Christ to them, in any way you can. This approach will be the best witness of God’s love and will reflect most favorably on the body of Christ.
CLOSING PRAYER:
Dear God, we pray as the Psalmist, “the righteous cry out and the Lord hears them, he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit,” (Psalm 34:17-18, NIV).
CONTINUED READING:
Habakkuk 3:17-19, Hebrews 12:1-2
WORSHIP: