Dear Friends,
Here’s a quick multiple choice quiz question for you.
- Who or what is ultimately responsible for your joy?
- My circumstances
- Other people
- Me
You don’t need me to tell you which answer is correct, do you?
Now let’s be clear here. I’m not suggesting that our human experience is supposed to be a continuous stream of endless joy. That’s for later. For now, living in a fallen, broken world, there are legitimate reasons for sadness and sorrow.
It’s not wrong to be sad. In the face of injustice, we should be grieved. When we are confronted with the reality and depth of our own sin, it is right for us to be filled with sorrow.
There are 60+ Psalms of lament in our Bibles. In the Sermon on the Mount, we’re told that those who mourn are blessed. Jesus, in the garden of Gethsemane was sorrowful and troubled.
So when we experience seasons of sadness and sorrow, we’re not in sin. And our sadness and sorrow is most commonly and easily stirred up by the actions of others or the unpleasant circumstances we face.
Back to our quiz question. I didn’t ask “what keeps you from being joyful?” Or “Is it always wrong to be sad?” The question is about who is responsible for your joy. And the answer is obvious. It’s you.
What does the Bible tell us about moving from sadness to joy?
This is not a comprehensive list, but it will hopefully give you a starting place.
First, when your soul is downcast, speak to your soul. That’s what King David does in Psalm 42. “My tears have been my food day and night,” he confesses. “Why are you so downcast, O my soul?” he asks. And then he tells his soul to refocus. “Put your hope in God. (Psalm 42:3,5).
Apparently, the source of David’s sorrow – and so much of our own sorrow – is misplaced hope. David is experiencing the disappointment that comes when we think that someone or something other than God can deliver that for which our soul longs. David knows what his soul needs to do. Turn back to God.
Second, when joy seems far away, examine your heart and confess your sins. Psalm 51 is David’s penitential Psalm where He asks God to have mercy and to blot out his transgressions. “Against you and you only have I sinned,” David acknowledges. “Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and renew a right spirit within me.”
There is pleasure in sin for a season, the Bible declares. But the momentary thrill of sin dissipates quickly. Joy is restored when we turn again to the Lord and find forgiveness and cleansing.
Third, the Bible tells us that our deepest experience joy is found as we draw near to God. “In your presence,” the Psalmist declares “there is fullness of joy.” The writer of Hebrews repeatedly tells his readers to “draw near” to God. “Draw near with confidence to the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16). Those who draw near are “saved to the uttermost” (Hebrews 7:25). We are told to “draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water” (Hebrews 10:22). And James promises us that when we draw near to God, He will draw near to us (James 4:8).
Joy is found in His presence. So draw near.
Finally, we need to regularly remind ourselves that while sorrow may last for the night (when darkness reigns) joy comes in the morning (when the light dawns). The trials of this life which will produce grief and sadness and despair are “light and momentary afflictions” which are producing in us “an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.” So we do not lose heart “as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).
On a scale of 1-10, how’s your joy today? If your soul is downcast, don’t shrug your shoulders and say “oh well, I guess there’s nothing I can do about it.” Pursue joy by pursuing God.
It’s time for the April Game Night:
And it’s almost time for the Roots Student Ministries end of year party!
And here’s a reminder for you.
Would you set aside 10 minutes before or after church this week to add your name and a short note in the bibles we’re giving to our graduating seniors in a few weeks? The Bibles are in the church family room. Think of 2-3 passages of Scripture that are meaningful to you. Then in the margin in the Bible, write a brief encouraging note adjacent to the passage you’ve selected.
We would love to see each senior’s Bible filed with encouragement from everyone in our church. On May 19th, Pastor Cole will personally present each Senior with his or her Bible. Your notes will be a great encouragement to them.
Men, you are welcome to join us on Tuesday night, April 30 as we continue our Stepping Up study. I’m actually thinking about trying out a new recipe for chicken nuggets this month…
And men, get ready for breakfast! On Saturday, May 18, we’ll gather for food and fellowship. Click here (https://redeemerlr.churchcenter.com/registrations/events/2277993) and let us know you’re planning to attend.
If you have a child who you have not dedicated to the Lord, you are welcome to add your name to our upcoming Baby Dedication ceremony on Mother’s Day, May 12. Reach out to Jen Gurney with any questions.
If you’ve been visiting Redeemer and you’d like to know more about what it means to be a member in our church, we hope you can join us in May for our Friday Evening/Saturday Morning Church Membership Class. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about Redeemer and to get to know leaders and other people who are new to our church.
Thank you to all who prayed and gave to help fund Phase One of our facility expansion planning. As of Monday, we had exceeded the amount needed to move forward! We’ll be working with WWD Architects, with our own Nate Martin helping guide this project.
We’ll keep you posted on plans as things proceed.
For years, there have been books published purporting to provide an account of someone who died and came back to life after spending time in heaven. As we’ll see on Sunday, the book of Revelation gives us an authoritative record of what someone would actually see if they were taken to the place where God dwells.
See you in church.
Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Bob
Resource Info
