Joy In Trials

This week we concluded our Living a Legacy series. Suffering, trouble, and affliction are part of living in this world marked by sin. Finding joy in the midst of suffering, however, is a concept that is foreign in our culture. Even within Christian circles we end up not sure what this looks like. We know we are supposed to be filled with joy, so we put on a happy face while our hearts are hurting and pretend that everything is okay. We end up attempting to fake out others or maybe even try to fake out ourselves. We have the mistaken idea that we can’t allow other people to know our fear, disappointment, anger, or hurt because after all, if we love Jesus we are supposed to be filled with joy.

God uses adversity from external circumstances to shape us to look more like Jesus. This is one of the reasons that beginning with humility before God is so important. If we start with recognizing who God is and willingly submit ourselves under his authority, we are then able to embrace God’s process for spiritual formation. When we realize that we don’t have to prove ourselves to him, we can honestly open ourselves up to be transformed at the very core of who we are. This requires us to be people who find our joy in Christ, being now people who are at peace with God.

Legacy Principles #4: Live with joy in trials.

Ask these types of questions:

What is joy? How can we know that God really loves us? What kind of freedom do we have because God has given us the Holy Spirit? What kind of disappointments, hurts, frustrations, or problems are you suffering from right now? How does approaching our adversity knowing we are at peace with God and he has our best interest at heart encourage us to rejoice while still experiencing discomfort or even pain?

Or any others you find in The Journey Daily Guide.

Memorize this verse:

“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” ~ Romans 5:1, ESV

Read and discuss these passages:

Romans 5:1-5

Ephesians 1:11-14

May God bless you as you embraced his love for you through the Holy Spirit’s presence.