Steadfast Joy
Read It Aloud: …let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Heb 12:1b-2, NKJV)
Ponder It Prayerfully: Joy is a word not often associated with pain or difficult circumstances. In fact, the dictionary defines joy as “the emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying” (Dictionary.com). We can see, based on this definition, that joy and happiness are interchangeable words, and are temporary emotions based on circumstances. So, how was Jesus able to maintain joy in the midst of great suffering? How was He able to endure the pain of the cross? Glad you asked! He was able to endure the pain of the cross because He had joy, but not just any kind of joy–He had the joy of the Lord (Nehemiah 8:10). According to the Nelson Study Bible commentary,
“The joy of the Lord is the joy that springs up in our hearts because of our relationship with the Lord. It is a God-given gladness found when we are in communion with God [and ] when our goal is to know more about the Lord, the by-product is His joy”.
Thus, the joy of the Lord is different from mere happiness in that it stems not from circumstances, but our relationship with the Lord, and because of God is unchanging, this joy remains steadfast and unchanging as well. Furthermore, the above scripture in Hebrews indicates that Jesus was also able to endure the cross because of “the joy that was set before Him”. Our Lord Jesus understood that in order to fulfill His purpose while on this earth, which was to garner our salvation, He would have to make the ultimate sacrifice and pay the ultimate price, enduring the shame and pain of the cross. He focused not on the suffering He would endure , but on the reward. The joy of our salvation gave Him the strength to keep moving on toward the cross.
Be A Doer (James 1:22): So how do we maneuver the emotions that come with difficult circumstances while maintaining joy? A good question…glad you asked! There are two things important truths from this scripture that we can gain insight from — secrets to steadfast joy. Firstly, our joy needs to be based not on our circumstances, but on a relationship with God. The Word says that the joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). Thus, a thriving relationship with God is vital in maintaining a joy that can break down the walls of depression that can come from trials. Secondly, we need to know and understand the purpose for which we were created. God created us all with a specific purpose in mind, and understanding this truth helps our joy remain steadfast, even in the midst of difficult circumstances. Without a knowledge of our purpose, we are more likely to give up in this walk of faith (Hosea 4:6). In the midst of our trials, let’s allow Jesus to be our example, as we imitate Him in the way He endured and maintained His joy on the way to making the ultimate sacrifice. It’s been said that the enemy of our souls is not after our wealth, or health, or the like, but is after our joy, because he knows if he can destroy that, he can weaken us and take us out of the race. Do not give him that chance — let the joy of the Lord be your strength!
Hide It In Your Heart (Psalm 119:11): Instead of your shame, you shall have double honor, and instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion, therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs (Isaiah 62:7).
Pray It Personally: Heavenly Father, as your word says that the joy of the Lord is my strength, so even in the midst of my difficult circumstance, I ask that You be my strength, and that my joy in you remains steadfast and unbending, in the joy-giving name of Jesus, Amen.
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