Dwelling in Eternal Joy
“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1:2-4, NLT)
I think it’s kind of hilarious that this was the passage for my blogging week. Maybe not actually funny, but God often seems to have a sense of humor in the way He lines things up.
I recently experienced a very intense and incredible joy: I got ENGAGED!! (What?!?)
I am quite certain I don’t need further explanation as to why I feel intense joy. I just said YES to starting a wild journey with the love of my life?! Joy doesn’t even begin to describe the emotions I feel! The joy of anticipation, and the joy of beginning the next season- even the joy of the unknown.
Yet sometimes, painful disappointment comes with intense joy, and such was my case. Only a few days after the beautiful moment, I got my new ring caught on something, and a setting was bent so that one of the accent stones came out. I was horrified. That horrible, icky feeling of dread twisted in my stomach. I had felt like my new ring was indestructible and perfect, and now it was in need of repair? It didn’t seem possible!
Such a moment certainly brought confusion to my soul. I was mad: mad at myself for the accident, mad at God for allowing something like that to happen. After working out my emotions and questions with God, I realized that I was focusing my joy on an object. The joy of marriage being on the near horizon is not dependent on whether I have a diamond ring to wear on my finger. Neither does my joy in Christ depend on my circumstances being always good and pleasant.
Our James passage tells me to intentionally (that is, with conscious effort) count suffering JOY. To find hope, and gratitude, and God’s provision in moments of sorrow, pain and disappointment. I realized with the situation with my engagement ring that I was not dwelling in a state of joy that relied on Christ. I was putting my hope in things that are not eternal.
Gold won’t last forever. Valuables in this world can be lost, stolen and broken. But when I put my hope and joy in Christ, my joy can be eternal. It’s a choice I have to make at every moment, but joy can be found.
Now, my moment of trial did not instantly turn around to become joyous. I had to take some time to grieve and be frustrated, and express my emotions to God. Yet after I did this, I was able to see where my joy was coming from, and that God was producing endurance in me through it.
God showed me a side to His sovereignty that I often forget: that even when things don’t go my way, He knew what was going to happen. He knew before I was born, before the U.S. became a nation, before Rome fell, before He even created the earth. He is in control. In all moments, in all seasons.
In John 16, Jesus’ disciples were deeply concerned about His leaving them. Their Savior, not sticking around to help them continue to spread His Word? I can imagine the hurt, confusion and devastated bewilderment they must have felt. But Jesus speaks to them in verse 22, “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 16:22, ESV) He promises them a joy that cannot be taken, cannot be robbed. Jesus was speaking of the joy we will experience in eternity, but the joy He promised for that future is also available to us now.
In John 15, just a chapter before He tells the disciples about His earth-departure, Jesus says to abide in Him. The simplest way I can understand abiding is dwelling in Christ; to rest in His power, love and provision. Jesus tells us that when we are living in a way that keeps our minds and hearts focused on Him, His joy will be ours:
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11)
Friends, I know you have all experienced moments of disappointment and deep grief. I ask that you take some time to slow down with Jesus, and see where the joy lies in it (whether something you are experiencing now, or something from the past). You might be surprised what hidden jewels await you in the suffering.
“So let [your faith] grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” (James 1 verse 4)