FEBRUARY 15, 2024
Topic: JOY BEYOND LIFE’S TURMOIL
Text: Psalm 16:10-11
Memory Verse: “ Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” – Psalm 16:11.
A story was told of a widow who lost her only child to a ghastly accident while going for compulsory youth service. The woman suffered to train her boy due to the fact that her husband died while the boy was just 6 years old. The joy of this widow was palpable on his graduation as she was full of life and hope but alas, this happened. Her relations struggled to break this horrible news to her but to their greatest surprise, she bowed in worship to God, the Giver of all things and said to them, “what a privilege to share the pain of my Lord, who gave His only Son to the whole world” Indeed, faith can sing in trouble according to the Baptist Hymnal. ‘In all this, Job did not sin or charge God with wrongdoing” Job 1:22.
Joy and happiness are two different emotions that are somewhat similar but are actually very different. Joy is attributed to something very consistent and internal, while happiness tends to be triggered externally. Joy that sings during life’s turmoil can only come from God because the natural tendency of man is to go away from God out of anger or a feeling of disappointment or rejection. According to our text for today, the place to find fullness of Joy is not in something, but in the PERSON of Jesus Christ and in His presence. Joy that can still praise God when the turbulence of life arises, when things seem to fall apart is in the Lord. A man that is in not in the Lord cannot exhibit this joy. As children of God, we are to swim and fully maximize this inheritance we have in Christ Jesus.
Beloved, are you troubled and facing life a threatening situation? Are you even contemplating suicide? Are you deprived of genuine and enduring joy? All you need to do is to find your place in Christ Jesus and your lost joy shall be restored. Have you done anything that has syphoned your joy of salvation? Your prayer this day shall be that of David, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” Psalm 51:12
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I need your joy in my life, I run unto you this day, receive me and restore my joy.