Joyful Faith

One of the strange paradoxes of the Christian faith is that we can know pure, authentic joy even in the midst of trials. Far from crushing our faith, we can know joy when we understand why God allows us to endure trials. Mary Jo Sharp, writing in the Summer 2014 sessions of Bible Studies for Life, said, “We respond to difficulties and suffering in a variety of ways. Some of us respond with anger, dogged determination to fight it, or passive resignation. Others respond with introspection or by asking, ‘Why me?’ But who responds with joy? Yet joy is the very attitude the Bible calls us to embrace.”

What does the Bible say?

As we look in Scripture, we find joy in various places related to our suffering: during suffering and/or after suffering.

The Apostle Peter wrote, “Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you. Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of the Messiah, so that you may also rejoice with great joy at the revelation of His glory” (1 Peter 4:12-13, HCSB). Peter reminds us that suffering is a part of our lives as followers of Christ, and we should rejoice that we are sharing in the life of Christ. He also, however, indicates joy that will be at the end of our journey, “at the revelation of His glory.”

Joy and Suffering

Joy after suffering is often forgotten, and we sometimes feel guilty if we have not been “happy enough” while in trials. Most believers are familiar with the passage in the gospels in which Jesus asks the Father to deliver Him from the cup of suffering. In the end, He surrendered wholly to His Father’s will, saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.”¹ What we do not always see is the attitude aligned with His obedience: future joy.

Remember the significance of the cup and the cross? The cup represented the sin of the world and the cross was the place where Jesus would become sin for us. Jesus was obedient, but the scripture never says He was joyful about being made sin. It was the opposite. His joy, in fact, was on the other side of the cross. There is an oft-missed phrase in Hebrews giving us insight into the attitude of Jesus as He faced this redemption providing sacrifice: “[K]eeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne.”² (Emphasis added.)

Joy is Coming

Note carefully His attitude in each part of the journey. The joy was on the other side of a cross He endured and shame He despised. Jesus found no joy in the cross, but He knew joy was coming.

This is how the psalmist expressed it, “Weeping may spend the night, but there is joy in the morning.”³ In times of trial, there are two opportunities for joy. One is during the trial itself. But, even when we do not find joy in the trial, we can live with the hope of joy after it.

As you walk through life this week please remember these two things:

1. Look for joy in your trials this week.
2. Live with hope for joy after it.

Going through trials is never easy. Yet, through the trials, God teaches us and builds in us the future hope of joy forever.

Yours for the Great Commission,

Ronnie W. Floyd

¹– Luke 22:42
²– Hebrews 12:2, HCSB
³– Psalm 30:5b, HCSB