Vision of Hope
Joy in Times of Pain
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  • Finding Joy in Times of Pain

    Good morning, children of God! What a blessing it is to be here, gathered together, in the name of Jesus this morning! Another day we as believers live in the light and the grace of God. That we have the privilege of coming together to worship His Holy name, and to learn of the master.
    On this third Sunday of Advent, I want to focus on Christian Joy. We are less than two weeks away from Christmas, the day we celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Joy has a name, and it is Jesus Christ.
    We can so easily lose sight of the Joy the LORD provides because we become consumed by our thoughts, our circumstances, or by the things others say. Even the things we start believing about ourselves that are not true. So much so that we become unhappy with ourselves, unhappy with others, unhappy with our jobs, and unhappy within our homes. We end up losing our joy.
    It is importance that the believer understand the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness and joy are radically different things.
    Let’s look at modern psychologies definition of happiness.
    Happiness, in psychology, a state of emotional well-being that a person experiences either in a narrow sense, when good things happen in a specific moment, or more broadly, as a positive evaluation of one’s life and accomplishments.
    I want you to notice something here: Happiness, by the world’s standard, is dependent on moments and groups of moments. Living up to the world’s standards.
    No wonder so many of us struggle to find happiness! The thing about happiness, is it is never permanent. I have heard others say it, and I have said it myself “I am never going to find happiness.” Anybody else ever said this? Be honest, you are in the house of the LORD!
    God wants us to be happy. He is a good good Father. He wants His children to be filled with all of the good He offers us.
    Scripture defines happiness a bit differently than the world does. Jesus used a very specific word to define happiness: Makarios, which means blessed or fortunate.
    New American Standard Hebrew-Aramaic and Greek Dictionaries: Updated Edition 3107 μακάριος (makarios)

    μακάριος makarios; happy or fortunate

    Of the 50 times Jesus used the word “makarios,” 50 of those times he was saying “happy or fortunate.” In Matthew 5, Jesus Christ taught us this in the Sermon on the Mount.
    Matthew 5:3–10 ESV
    3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
    Jesus was saying that those who live a Godly life, and follow God, are happy and fortunate. He connected happiness DIRECTLY to focusing on God and living a Godly life.
    True joy comes from “honoring God” and being “content with what God is doing in our life.” The believers happiness becomes dependent on the joy we find in serving the LORD.
    “Happiness happens to you.”
    “Joy is something you can choose”
    Happiness will never lead to joy, but Godly joy brings happiness.
    Let’s look at a biblical definition of Joy.
    Christian joy is a supernatural gift from God, which cannot be manufactured by human effort. It can only be experienced through fellowshipping with God, meditating on His Word, drawing close to Him through worship and prayer, and casting our cares upon Him.
    God’s gift of joy to the believer is like all of the other gifts he offers us. We can choose to accept it, or we can throw back in his face.
    True spiritual joy is not found in materialism, self-obsession, or personal efforts, but in Christ. By remaining in Him, immersing yourself in His Word, and seeking to know Him more intimately, your “joy will be full.”
    Last week, Pastor Paul delivered a message that spoke about dreams and visions, specifically about “being a Joseph.” The LORD speaks to me all the time through dreams and visions. Now, I do not fall into trances, although, it may seem like I do because I fall so deep into thought. He knows I need the visuals to understand.
    He gave me something as I was preparing for today. I was sitting in my office, and I was feeling sad, battling some depression as I do every year around the holidays, and trying to praying through it. I know I am not alone in that. How many of us experience anxiety, stress, or depression around the holidays at times?
    According to research done by the American Psychological Association, during the holidays:
    89% of Adults experience stress during the Holidays
    58% have major concerns about spending too much money or not having enough money
    51% experience loneliness, even when surrounded by loved ones
    69% feel pressure to appear happier than they really are
    So, I am sitting there, feeling ALL THE THINGS, and the LORD gives me these verses:
    Matthew 4:8–9 ESV
    8 Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. 9 And he said to him, “All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.”
    The first thing I said was “LORD, I am putting together a sermon about finding joy in the pain.” “That is NOT joyful.” Then, He gave me the imagery, and it shook me to my core.
    Go with me here. Picture Satan, standing right next to Jesus, whispering in his ear, and saying “I will give you everything, if you bow down and worship me.” Do we all have that imagery in our minds?
    Okay, now in that imagery in your mind, it is not Jesus, but YOU standing with Satan. Satan has his arm around your shoulders, and he says to you, “I will give you everything if you bow down and worship me.”
    That is why we can’t find happiness at times, we are always looking for more. We will look out at all those things we do not have, all of those things we desire for our lives, all of those things we want, the things we don’t get to do: “I don’t have that, that hasn’t happened to me, I don’t get to do those things.” We end up seeking after the kingdoms of the world.
    We end up missing what is right in front of us. The people and things that God has already blessed us with. The JOY that He has gifted us with.
    I am going to say something very bold this morning. You are never going to find permanent happiness. Circumstances and situations arise that do not bring happiness. But the Joy of the LORD is always available to the believer.
    Some of us may be thinking “But Bob, joy escapes me, I do not feel the joy of the LORD.”
    Even when you don’t feel joyful, you can CHOOSE to “do what joy would do.” IT IS ALWAYS A CHOICE. You may not feel right, but you can train yourself by practicing godly actions. Read the blessings out of Matthew 5 every morning, His Word will change your perspective.
    Joy is never an end in itself. It’s not something to be worked toward. Joy is the result of our relationship with Christ” – Joy is given by Christ himself. In Hebrews 12:2, we read:
    Hebrews 12:2 ESV
    2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.
    There is such an important lesson here. Jesus’ focus was not on his current circumstances. I can promise you that Jesus Christ was not feeling happiness when “his sweat were as great droplets of blood” at the garden of Gethsemane when he asked the LORD to take this cup of suffering if it be His will.
    Jesus saw the joy beyond the circumstances. He knew that God was using it to His glory and so that He could offer pure and eternal joy to His children.
    How about the cross? I do not think he enjoyed being tortured, the skin and meat being torn from his body, and nailed to a cross. NO! What he counted joy was beyond the cross, it was knowing that he would be with you in the Kingdom of Glory.
    How often do we slam the brakes on, dead stop, during the trials of life? START LOOKING BEYOND THE CIRCUMSTANCES KNOWING THAT VICTORY IS YOURS THROUGH THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!
    Jesus did not go to the cross for us to live in misery. He went to the cross to ensure we could experience the fullness of His joy. We need to stop trying to find joy in everything outside of God, and start allowing the Spirit to fill us with joy, even when we are not happy.
    James tells us how to find joy in the pain.
    James 1:2–4 NIV
    2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
    Again, a big difference between joy and happiness. I am not going to speak for you, but I do not find happiness when I am in the midst of trials, but what we can have is joy.
    Remember that faith is synonymous with trust. God has not let me down yet, so I trust Him completely. That trust may be shaken at times, but He always come through like only God can.
    Knowing that in the midst of pain does something to the believers heart and mind. We can face the pain with assurance, and trust knowing that the LORD is using it and that we are refined and made more mature. The Apostle Paul tells us that finding joy in the pain builds our Christian character.
    Romans 5:3–5 NLT
    3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.
    The Apostle Paul put these in a very specific order:
    We develop endurance first. Jesus has given us all we need to face trials. He has given us His Word, He has given us Holy Spirit, He has given us the fellowship of the saints (that’s us).
    Do not dismiss the importance of fellowship with other believers. As much as I tried isolating in my walk, I would never have made it to today without my brothers and sisters in the Lord. That is why the writer of Hebrews tells us in Hebrews 10:25:
    Hebrews 10:25 NIV
    25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
    We are here to lift one another up and to encourage each-other. We help remind one another of the joy He gives us during the pain. Brothers and sisters who are running the race and will turn around, run back, come up beside us and help us endure the many trials we face.
    That endurance strengthens our Christian character. Our mindset goes from “I don’t know how I am going to get through this” to “LORD, all my hope and joy are in you, and I know you are working all things out for good.” “Thank you, Father.” FACE THE PAIN KNOWING THAT. SPEAK THAT TRUTH! His joy will fill you.
    The hope and the joy that the believer has in God never leads to disappointment. God does not lie nor does He fail. His promises are fulfilled.
    If you are a believer this morning, there is no reason to not know the joy of the LORD, even through the pain, unless you are choosing not to experience His joy.
    We need to stop allowing the enemy to wrap his arms around us as he points out everything and every place we believe we are falling short, missing out, and failing.
    We need to focus on who the LORD says we are, being content with what He has blessed us with, and draw upon His joy in the pain.
    God has poured His love into our hearts. That reality is what gives us assurance, hope, and joy. THE BELIEVER HAS THE HOPE AND PROMISE OF HIS GLORY! If that does not bring joy to our hearts this morning, nothing will.
    I want to close with this verse today:
    Psalm 16:11 ESV
    11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
    As we continue through the holiday season this year, know that He has already given you the greatest hope and the greatest joy in Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior. As you dwell in the presence of the LORD, take on the fullness of His joy, knowing that He goes before you, He is behind you, and He carries you when needed.
    Prayer
    As the worship team makes their way up, I want us to go into a time of prayer. Get personal with God. Are you missing joy in your heart this morning? Ask Holy Spirit to teach you how to accept that precious gift of joy. If you are filled with joy, ask Him to show you brothers and sisters you can encourage and lift up. Let us pray.
    Closing Prayer
    Abba, Daddy, we thank you for the only True Hope and Joy that is Jesus Christ. We thank you for bringing us together to worship you and to serve one another today.
    Father, please be with those who are hurting right now. Encourage our hearts and minds to allow your joyful presence to fill us and overflow us. We thank you for your glory in this place and in your people. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
    If you are struggling this morning, if you are trying to break free from the chains that bind you, we want to pray for you this morning. The alter is open, there are brothers and sisters who want to pray for you and with you. Let today be the day you experience or even rediscover the joy of the LORD.

      • Matthew 5:3–10NIV2011

      • Matthew 4:8–9NKJV

      • Hebrews 12:2NKJV

      • James 1:2–4NKJV

      • Romans 5:3–5NKJV

      • Hebrews 10:25NKJV

      • Psalm 16:11NKJV

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