Be Joyful Always

So as I am sitting here on the couch not feeling well at all I began to ponder what it really means to “be joyful always (1 Thess. 5:16) .”  You know, it’s wonderful to give God praise for the good things.  We should always be thankful and be a testimony to the wonderful blessings of God.  I’m not trying to knock anyone who gives God praise for the answered prayers and unexpected miracles.  In fact, I am very thankful Michael and I have gotten some answers to the quandary of my health woes, finding out I have a sluggish adrenal and thyroid gland.  This is wonderful and an answer to prayer! 

But here’s what I am thinking about and here’s what I’d like you to think about.  What about the times when life is difficult and things aren’t what we expected or hoped for?  Do we praise Him?  Do we thank Him?  Or do we become bitter and resentful? 

I know there have been times in the past when I have become bitter and resentful.  It’s okay to be honest with God about our feelings, but once we put it out there on the table the next vital step to healing is confessing our unbelief, asking Him to heal us.  Because He will heal us, if we would humbly come to Him.  I’ve seen Him do it in my heart.  And you know what else friends; He always answers our prayers (just not always the way we want).

Yes, life is still challenging for me.  My health is not what a 28 year olds should be.  I should be able to do more throughout the day without becoming exhausted, but I can’t.  This is a reality for me.  I can’t do the things I want to do quite yet, but that’s okay.  It really is.  And it’s okay for you too in your own challenges.  At least, it can be.  Jesus really will give us peace through the gracious power of the Holy Spirit.  Sometimes it takes a long time, and trust me it’s taken a lot of wrestling, prayer, confession, scripture memorization, and the choice to believe even when I don’t want too in this area of my life.  And this is just one part of my life!  It is truly a life long journey of allowing God to transform all of me and you for His glory and our benefit! 

I look forward to the day when my health is restored to me, but in the meantime I am choosing to rejoice and be glad!  I know my God is more than able to restore my health like I’ve never experienced, but even if He didn’t I know my God has done great things for me; far too many to count.  You know, that whole raising me to new life, cleansing me of every sin thing He did through His Son Jesus Christ? Yah, that’s a pretty big deal, and something to rejoice over!  Sure, I won’t experience it fully until I meet my Savior face to face, but this is why the Bible says “we live by faith, not by sight (2 Cor. 5:7).”  We’ve got to stop viewing our lives and the condition of the world through our own lenses.  Instead, we need to look at the world through God’s lenses, seeing the bigger picture of redemption through Jesus Christ in our lives and the world.  I don’t know about you, but this gives me hope and something to rejoice over!  When we really study the Bible we realize just how caring our Father is and how big of a plan He has for all of creation.

So even though my health isn’t good, I will rejoice in God my Savior, believing in His love for me.  I love what the book of Habukkuk says (I would actually recommend reading the whole book).  Habukkuk complains to God quite a bit throughout the book, but listen to the declaration of this prophet at the closing of the book. 

 

“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights.” Hab. 3:17-19

What about us?  Can we make this same declaration of faith?

Insecurity: The Need for More

"Jesus answered her, "If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked him and he would have given you living water." John 4:10

 

So I went on a bit of a blog breakJ.   I’ve been preparing for a Bible study at our church about the life of Joseph and it has taken a lot of my time and focus.  I’m pretty excited about it.  I hope to share some insights from it here on my blog!

On Saturday Michael and I took a quick trip down to St. Louis.  On the drive down I decided to do some reading.  I actually re-read a chapter out of a book I’ve been reading, I’ve found it to be so helpful as I prepare for the Bible study on Joseph.  The book is, From Dream to Destiny by Robert Morris, and is actually a book I’ve referred to in a recent post (Pacemaker: The Ups and Downs).  The chapter that I re-read out of the book was the chapter on pride and Morris mentions that he believes a lot of our pride comes from the “root of insecurity.”  He goes on to say, “If we take a closer look we can see something lying behind this sense of insecurity.  It is fear—fear that people won’t accept us or value us unless we know how great we are.  So we talk about ourselves in the hopes of being considered worthy of acceptance of others.”

Oye…I ran right into a wall.  I sat there for a moment and this thought went through my head: No, this wasn’t talking about me because I’d dealt with my issues already in seminary.  I heard a sermon yesterday where the pastor said we have a tendency to hear a message or read a scripture and immediately think it’s for someone else and never us.  If that’s you, if you are constantly seeing others instead of seeing yourself, I’m just going to be blunt, Satan has deceived you.  Stop looking at others and starting looking inward.  Let God work in you.  Let Him redeem you.  Let Him set you free.  We’ve all got unhealthy patterns that will take the journey of walking with Jesus to help heal.  Some things are healed in an instant but others will take years of walking with and surrendering to the Lord Jesus Christ. 

At least, this is what I am learning in my own journey.  Because as I sat there in the car and let this idea sink in a little further, it began to dawn on me that yes I had begun working through my own unhealthy issues of pride/insecurity/perfectionism in seminary but that didn’t mean it still didn’t rear its ugly head in other ways

You see, I’m a recovering perfectionist.  I cannot thank the Lord Jesus for the ways He has freed me from this.  He has buried so many lies in my life.  But if I could be honest for a moment, I know I’ve still got some issues to work through in this area.  They’ve probably always been there I just didn’t realize it until now, because I was a bit blind (that’s what pride and insecurity does).  But now, by the grace of God, my eyes have been opened to a greater Truth, a great freedom which is available to me and to you in Christ Jesus.  I think when Jesus sets you free in certain areas of your life; it opens you up to the Truth of your own heart.  Something that you were once blind too, you now see. 

Could it be that we really could be completely secure in the amazing reality that we are sons and daughters of the Upmost High King?  I think it could be.  No, I know it could be.  Identity is found in Jesus Christ and His relentless love for us, everything else is an exhausting empty pursuit.  When identity is found in Christ we will no longer need the accolades of others or have the desire to please everyone we meet.  We will know that the only person we have to please is our Heavenly Father who will always guide us in Truth. 

Gracious Father, there are many ways we have been blinded by insecurity and pride.  In your grace and power would you open our eyes to your Truth.  Father it’s here that we find true and lasting security in Christ Jesus.  No longer do we define ourselves by our externals, but by your Love.  We entrust this work to you and rejoice over the chains you will break in our own hearts.  Christ, be our one and only.  We love you.  We need your help to help us walk this journey of faith.  Thank you for never leaving us nor forsaking us.  Amen. 

 

I wonder how your eyes have been opened to a greater Truth in Christ Jesus?  I’d love to hear, please feel free to share!