You did it: you changed wild lament into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song; I can’t keep quiet about you.
God, my God, I can’t thank you enough.
Psalm 30:11-12
Life rarely turns out the way we dream it would, but that doesn’t mean it has to affect our joy. We may have been dealt, what we perceive, as an unfair hand. We may struggle in our marriage, maybe our relationship with our children isn’t what we dreamed it would be or we’re not satisfied in our work. Are there health issues that you struggle with? How can we have joy in the midst of life’s struggles and sufferings?
In 2005, after several trips to the Emergency Room with debilitating headaches, I was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis. Going on 18 years, the headaches continue. I have headaches more days than not. I made a choice the day my doctor diagnosed me to remain joyful and even celebrate this path. I continue to remember that nothing takes God by surprise. I was and still am right in the center of His perfect will! So, is there a secret to having joy in the midst of our struggles?
Hebrews 12:2 starts out by saying, “We look away from the natural realm and we focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus who birthed faith within us and who leads us forward into faith’s perfection”.
We will never achieve joy or peace if we keep our eyes on the world, our situation, our suffering. We must focus our attention and expectation onto Jesus. We must let go of every wound that has pierced us and the sin we so easily fall into. (Hebrews 12:1) We can’t let unforgiveness, bitterness, or resentment keep us from being joyful.
Continuing on in Hebrews 12:2, “He was willing to die a shameful death on the cross because of the joy He knew would be His afterwards.” We can be willing, as Jesus was, to have joy in our suffering.
“Everyone that rejoices in their suffering are doing it for the sake of the Gospel and are bringing their souls closer to Jesus.” 2 Timothy 2:10
If our identity is anchored in Christ then our suffering will drive us deeper into our source of joy.
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In her book, Defiant Joy, Stasi Eldridge states, “Suffering is an essential part of all our lives. And it is when we are in the midst of it that God reminds us that the absence of suffering is not our good. And knowing His presence in the pain is the sweetest gift of all.”
Ladies, whatever you are going through today, make it a priority to keep your eyes on Jesus and not your situation. Forgive, let go, praise and dance like nobody is watching!
We want to thank Kerri Harper for sharing this post.
Women's Ministry 