You Have Turned My Mourning into Dancing! – Psalm 30

 

Dennis Edwards

Psalm 30:1 “I will extol Thee, O Lord; for You have lifted me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.”

David is giving God thanks that his enemies, including his father-in-law, the former King who sought to slay him, have not been victorious over him.

Psalm 30:2-3 “O Lord my God, I cried unto You, and You have healed me. O Lord, You have brought up my soul from the grave: You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.”

David is thanking the Lord that he is alive. The Lord answered him when he cried and healed him from his depression or from his sickness, in so much, that he did not die. He is thankful.

Psalm 30:4 “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holiness.”

A common thread throughout the psalms is thanksgiving and praise to God for His goodness unto the children of men. It is good for us to give thanks and praise unto the Lord. The last verse in the last psalm gives the main messages of the Psalms.

Psalm 150:6 “Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD:”

Or like we know it in the New Testament,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Psalm 30:5 “For His anger endures but a moment; in His favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.”

The Old Testament tells us that God is slow to anger and merciful. When God appeared before Moses the Lord proclaimed to him,

Exodus 34:6b-7a “(I) The Lord, The Lord God (am) merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth, keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin.”

The same idea is paraphrased in the psalms.

Psalm 134:8-9 “The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The Lord is good to all: and His tender mercies are great over all His works.”

Some 44 times in the Psalms is repeated the phrase, “His mercy endures for ever.”

Psalm 118: 1-4 & 29 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: because His mercy endures for ever. Let Israel now say, that His mercy endures for ever. Let the house of Aaron now say, that His mercy endures for ever. Let them now that fear the LORD say, that His mercy endures for ever…O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.”

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the LORD; for He is good: for His mercy endures for ever.”

Psalm 136 has 26 lines and each line ends with “for His mercy endures for ever.”

Contrary to the idea that the God of the Old Testament is a monster, God proclaims that He is good and merciful and slow to anger. When He does get angry at us for our rebellion or sin, it lasts but for a moment. We may end up with a serious problem because of our sin, our health may be damaged, or a relationship may be broken, but as we cry out to God with our tears, His compassion fails not. We are once more brought back into harmony with Him and our problem is resolved whatever it may have been. Joy comes flooding back into our lives.

The prophet Jeremiah confirms what we have been saying.

Lamentations 3:22-23 "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, Because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is thy faithfulness."

Psalm 30:6 “In my prosperity I said, I shall never be moved.”

God warned the children of Israel, and He warns us to beware of prosperity.

Deuteronomy 9:11,12,14,17,18,19 “Beware that you forget not the Lord your God, in not keeping His commandments, and His judgments, and His statutes,…Lest when you have eaten and are full,…Then your heart be lifted up, and you forget the Lord your God,… And you say in your heart, My power and the might of mine (own) hand has gotten me this wealth. But you shall remember the Lord your God: for it is He that gives you power to get wealth…And it shall be, if you do at all forget the Lord your God, and walk after other gods, and serve them, and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.”

Psalm 62:10b “If riches increase, set not your heart upon them.”

Apostle Paul, admonished us, also.

1 Timothy 6:6-10 “But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

In our prosperity we have the tendency to forget God. David is confessing that he, too, forgot God in His prosperity He sinned grievously in the incident with Bathsheba. God’s anger was upon him for a moment. David confessed and truly repented and found forgiveness in God’s mercy.

Psalm 30:7 “Lord, by Your favour You have made my mountain to stand strong: You did hide Your face, and I was troubled.”  

It is only God’s mercy that we are able to stand. If we were rightly judged for our sins, no one would stand. When our relationship with God becomes cloudy through neglect or sin, we sense his lack and anxiety comes in and we are troubled.

Psalm 30:8 “I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the Lord I made supplication.”

When we are troubled, when that cloud over shadows us, we cry unto the Lord once again. Apostle Paul gives the same solution to our moments of anxiety.  He tells us, if we cry unto the Lord in prayer and in supplication with thanksgiving, God will hear our prayer and send peace of heart and mind unto our souls.

Philippians 4:6-7 “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 30:9 “What profit is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Shall the dust praise thee? Shall it declare Your truth?”

David questions whether in death we will be able to praise the Lord and speak of his truth.

Psalm 30:10 “Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be my helper.”

Again, he calls upon the Lord for mercy. He calls upon God to help him.

Psalm 30:11-12 You have turned my mourning into dancing: You have put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness. To the end that my glory may sing praise to You, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto You for ever.”

When God’s joy is taken from us, we are weak, downcast, and discouraged. After we spend time pleading with God, pouring out our heart and soul in prayer, seeking His face; God answers and renews or restores our joy. It is the joy of the Lord that is our strength. Once again, we are able to sing and to praise and to give thanks. We enter into His presence with praise, and with thanksgiving, and we cannot be silent for His mercy endures for ever.

If you’re downcast, don’t stay there, fight for joy. The joy of the Lord, His happiness, your praise to Him, your thankfulness to Him, will give you the strength to carry on. Don’t mettle in discouragement, for the devil is as a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He devours and smothers our joy in sadness, despondency, and depression. Don’t go there. Fight for joy, it’s your lifeline. It’s God’s strength in you and a gift of the Holy Spirit. Fight for happiness. In everything give thanks. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord, who is the author and finisher of our faith.

Praise ye the Lord, ye children of men, for God is worthy of our praise. He will bless us and help chase the clouds away, as we praise and give thanks to Him for whatever He allows in our lives. We know all things will work together for good, if we continue to love God and are thankful. A merry heart is as good as a medicine, so be happy! It’s part of our spiritual armour. Use it. Amen!

Originally published 06-08-2024.

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God Can Help You Through the Fiery Trial You Are Facing!

 

Dennis Edwards

A Study in 1 Peter 4-5.

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fire trial which is to try you, as if some strange thing happened unto you." 1 Peter 4:12.

The trials we have with our own children and personal family are like "fiery trials" as they affect us so much emotionally. A death of a child (adult or young), a child coming out as trans or gay, or becoming atheist and speaking vociferously against the things of God and or our faith, these types of situations can very easily cause emotional upheaval and bring discouragement. However, Apostle Peter tells us to "rejoice" and not let our trials bring us down or cause us to lose our equilibrium. He says,

"But rejoice, in as much as you are partakers of Christ's suffering; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy." 1 Peter 4:13

Peter is saying don't get discouraged, because the joy of the Lord is your strength. Rejoice, be glad with exceeding joy. Fight for joy, fight to be happy and don't let negative emotions overwhelm you. You are participating in Jesus’ suffering, therefore, rejoice.

"If you are reproached (which means criticized) for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God rests upon you: on their part (those that are criticizing you) He (God) is (being) evil spoken of, but on your part He (God) is (being) glorified." 1 Peter 4:14

When people are criticizing you for your Godly belief system, they are really criticizing God, so be happy, rejoice, and be glad!

"Yet if any suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf." 1 Peter 4:16

When we are faced with these fiery trials or emotionally battles as a result of being attacked by our loved ones for our beliefs, we should use the weapon of praise and thanksgiving. We, also, may need to reflect on whether we are being attacked for our faith, or for our mistakes and our sins. We may need to confess, or apologize and make things right, before we can go on to improve our relationship with our love ones.

Apostle James tells us to confess our faults one to another and to pray for one another that we may be healed. James 5:16. Jesus told us that before we bring our gift to the altar we should try to make things right with the person we know we have offended, and then come an offer our gift. Matthew 5: 23-24. The healing we need to take place in our family often begins with our realizing our mistakes, confessing and making things right with our loved ones, then the path is open for restoration to begin.

"Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well-doing, as unto a faithful Creator." 1 Peter 4:19

“For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake.” Philippians 1:29.

Both Apostle Peter and Paul tell us that suffering for Jesus is part of our job as His Ambassadors. However, since God is ultimately in control, we can rest safely in His arms. He is a faithful and just Creator who loves us and our loved ones and has promised that His sheep will hear His voice and follow Him. Not one of them that chooses to follow shall He allow to fall out of His hand. Our part is to hold onto them through prayer, good communication, and love. We may also need to change any old belief systems or behaviours that need changing. The truth is that it is possible to build better relationships with our loved ones through God's grace and the power of the Holy Spirit that lives and works in us and them. For God is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all we ask or think. Ephesians 3:20

“Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.” 1 Peter 5:6

Walking humbly before God and others, especially those of our own family, helps greatly to build better relationships and have good communication. Humility is part of the formular for victory.

“Casting all your care upon him; for he cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:7

We can cast all our anxieties and fears and problems up to the bosom of God through prayer and thanksgiving knowing God is bigger than our problem and will bring solution and victory in His time.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith.” 1 Peter 5:9

Apostle Peter’s formular for victory is to humble ourselves before God showing our utter dependence on Him, and then resisting the devil. Apostle James uses the same formular when he describes how to draw closer to God. He says,

“God resists the proud, but gives grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift you up.” James 4:6b, 7 & 10.

Humility brings us closer to God and then with God’s help we can resist the devil. “For greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world.” 1 John 4:4b “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8b. The devil has already been defeated on the cross. We need not believe his lies nor submit to them, but rather resist them.

The devil is the one who is attacking us through the words and reproaches of our family members. If we resist him through the spoken word of God, prayer, and praise; he will flee. We need to fight the good fight of faith. A passive war will not win. The enemy is trying to devour us and destroy our faith through these verbal and emotional attacks from our loved ones. Do not submit them, fight!

The enemy had used the words of Apostle Peter to attack Jesus. Peter had rebuked Jesus for saying that he must go up to Jerusalem “and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed.” Matthew 16:21. Peter said,

“Be it far from thee, Lord: this shall not be unto thee.” Matthew 16:22. “But he (Jesus) turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savours not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.” Matthew 16:23.

Jesus called Peter, Satan, because Apostle Peter was being used by Satan to spread his lies. Peter, therefore, understood how words and reproaches from a friend or loved one can be an attack from the enemy and cause us to be discouraged. It is often those that are closest to us that hurt us the most. We read in the Psalm of David:

“For it was not an enemy that reproached me; then I could have borne it: neither was it he that hated me that did magnify himself against me; then I would have hid myself from him. But it was thou, a man mine equal, my guide, and mine acquaintance. We took sweet counsel together, and walked unto the house of God in company.” Psalm 55:12-14.

Jesus had warned us that even a man’s foes would be those of his own household. Matthew 10:36. Like He tested Abraham, God tests us to see if we are going to put Him first, or put the feelings and desires of our family first. Jesus said,

“He that loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that takes not his cross, and follows after me is not worthy of me.” Matthew 10:37-38

Abraham passed the test and put God first. God therefore said unto him, “for now I know that you fear God, seeing you have not withheld your son, your only son from me.” Genesis 22:12b. If we put God first, He will bless us.

“But the God of all grace, who has called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10

God has promised to comfort those that suffer for his sake. He has promised He will not give us more than we can bear. Apostle Peter is assuring us that God will use the suffering He allows in our lives to make us stronger mature soldiers for Jesus. Peter may be remembering the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.

“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12

We can’t get around it. God wants us to rejoice and be exceeding glad in the face of the reproaches we suffer for His sake. If we have the right perspective and understand what’s happening, we can guard our emotional responses and rise above them through praise and the joy of the Lord. The devil wants to sadden and weaken us through the attacks we receive from those closest to us. But God’s word says,

“Sorrow not, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10. “Rejoice…., and again I say, rejoice.” Philippians 4:4. “Be of good cheer.” John 16:33. “Abound with thanksgiving.” Colossians 2:7. “Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations (or trials).” James 1:2 “And the peace of God which passes all understanding will fill your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Philippians 4:7

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because you defend them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.” Psalm 5:11. “Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” Psalm 32:11 “These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” John 15:11 “Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in faith so that you over flow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” Romans 15:13 “Rejoice evermore!” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Originally published 03-12-2024.

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Getting Through Tough Times—Rediscovering Joy

By Peter Amsterdam

Audio length: 20:02
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Over the years we each face seasons where the struggles of life can seem overwhelming, and the end of that cycle doesn’t appear to be anywhere in sight. We can feel like we’re stuck, and a sense of boredom or tediousness can set in, or a lack of joy. Someone I communicate with described it like this:

Sometimes it can feel as if the joy has been sucked out of your life and you’re now on autopilot, just going through the humdrum motions, day after day. You know what you need to do, but you don’t want to do it. You’re not in the mood. You’re in a funk. You don’t have the motivation to move forward. You feel grumpy and negative about yourself, and you wonder if you’ll ever get your motivation and joy back.

I realized recently that being bored can become a habit. You get used to it and kind of resign yourself to a boring existence. Then you stop trying. Your flame of enthusiasm becomes a little ember that’s just flickering. You kind of die inside.

When you’re feeling this way, it’s easy to default to available, comfortable, feel-good pastimes, such as binge watching, gaming, drinking, etc. You may find yourself spending more and more time in these activities, but still not feeling much better.

Maybe you can relate somewhat to that description, or maybe not. Such feelings are understandable, but the good news is that no matter what our circumstances and what losses we have sustained or what season of life we find ourselves in, we can rediscover our joy!

It’s important to remind ourselves that Jesus is the source of our joy. Knowing Him, staying close to Him and His Word, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and walking in obedience to our calling can infuse our lives with joy that is not dependent on physical circumstances.

We read this in Psalm 43:3, “Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.”  [The psalmist] sought after God, then committed to praise and trust Him no matter what, which is what we read in the next verse, “There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!” (Psalm 43:4).

Despite his heartache and overwhelming emotions, the psalmist remembered God truly was his only help and that GOD was always there, never forsaking him even when it felt like it.

If you’re feeling forgotten, by others or by God, let your hope swell and your joy return by intentionally believing that God will never leave you and is always by your side. Make a commitment to focus on God’s presence and the blessings He has given you, and let God be the source of your joy.—Tracie Miles¹

And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.—Acts 13:52

The joy of the Lord is your strength.—Nehemiah 8:10

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.—Psalm 126:3

Besides centering our lives on the Lord and His Word, and seeking to be filled with His Spirit, there are also practical “joy boosters”; that is, practical approaches that we can implement to enhance or recapture our joy. Let’s look at some ways in which we might do that. I’ll note a few ideas here, but this is by no means a complete list. If you’ll take some time to think and pray about this, the Lord can give you ideas that will work well for you personally.

Notice the little things. Try to pay attention to even brief moments that bring joy; these could be the result of little things. Take a moment to intentionally thank and praise the Lord for the little wonders that inspire you. Once you are aware of the things that produce joy, think about how you can intentionally build more of those moments into your life.

It could be such things as hearing a baby laugh, seeing a beautiful butterfly or playful puppy, laughing at a joke, eating a delicious dessert, hearing a beautiful song, or feeling invigorated after a walk or exercise session, creating or appreciating a work of art, and so on. Let small things bring you joy!

Many people are so disconnected from joy that they aren’t even really familiar with what joy feels like in their body or what types of things bring them joy. A joy journal is a good place to start: Pay attention for a week or two to all the moments when you find yourself smiling or laughing or feeling a sense of joy wash over you. Notice where you are, whom you’re with, and what you’re doing—those can all be clues to the kinds of things that might bring you more joy. ... The goal is to notice them, and once you notice what is causing them, you can re-create those conditions in your life.²

Allow time to do what brings you joy. Maybe some of the things you enjoy doing don’t seem important enough to take the time; it’s not a priority. Perhaps it feels like a self-indulgent waste of time or a distraction to your more important goals. But it is important to consciously make time and space to enjoy life as you are able.

Take a minute to remember what you used to love to do and find a way to pick it up again. If things are different now and that activity is not possible, or you find that it doesn’t “bring you joy” now, try something else. Just try! When you’re in a blah state of mind, you often can’t think of anything that would make you feel better, but don’t resign yourself to that mindset. Stir yourself up, give yourself some time, find something you like to do and enjoy it!

Make a difference. No matter how limited your circumstances, there is always something you can do to make things better. And making things better can give you a sense of fulfilment and enjoyment. Doing something for someone else, even something small, can bring you both joy. One of you shared the following, which I think illustrates this point well. She wrote:

I had just read “Willie and the Five-Minute Favor” by Iris Richard (in Kenya) in the July 2021 Activated mag.³ In the testimony Iris said:

We were just finishing up the distribution of 50 ten-kilo care packages to poor people … at the edge of one of the largest slums in East Africa.

Happy to have completed the project, I turned to leave when my colleague Sally held up the last package, saying, “Before we close, let’s quickly deliver this one to Willie up the hill. He isn’t able to walk down here.”

I was tired and sweaty, and my back ached. … I was about to postpone this task for another time when I remembered my new resolution of “five-minute favors,” which was inspired by something I read online:

“Want to make the world a better place? … Enter the five-minute favor concept that is no more complicated than its name alludes: take five minutes out of your day to do something that’ll benefit another person. … It doesn’t cost you much, but it can make a big difference in somebody’s life.”

Iris went on to explain how she decided to make the climb to deliver the care package to this needy man. He was alone in a one-room shack. His house had been destroyed in a flood, he had lost his leg in a hit-and-run accident, and consequently, he had lost his job.

She wrote: “Willie received our care package with a big smile. ‘God sent you!’ he said, and a tear ran down his cheek. … ‘I found new hope and purpose because of you,’ Willie said, when donated items for his new little roadside business were delivered by well-wishers.”

I was so touched by that testimony that I decided that I would also incorporate the idea of the “five-minute favor” in my life. I don’t live in Africa or have a ministry with the very poor, but I figured I’d give it a shot. I needed a new challenge, I was bored.

Soon after this commitment, I went to the grocery store. To give a bit of the back story: In a previous visit to this store a week or two earlier I had been trying to make a return at the customer service desk. I was having trouble with the transaction as I didn’t have my glasses and I kept entering the credit card number incorrectly. I noticed I was being attended to by the store manager. The store was busy. While helping me, the manager was constantly approached by all kinds of people—customers, employees, suppliers, etc., and he was kind and polite with each one. He kept smiling as he’d turn to me and with a kind voice say, “Shall we try it again?” He never once lost his composure or seemed bothered at all.

While at the store on this recent occasion, I walked by the manager, and I thought, “Ah, here’s an opportunity for a five-minute favor.” But I quickly started to talk myself out of it. “I’m in a hurry. And besides, he’s busy.”

But no! I turned around and walked up to him and asked, “Are you the manager?” His serene expression quickly changed, and he got a concerned look on his face that seemed to say, “Oh no, what’s wrong now?!”

I reminded him of our previous encounter. He immediately looked relieved. Then I said, “I just want to compliment you on your kindness. You make a difference in people’s lives every day with the patience and consideration you show and with that constant smile of yours.”

He was literally speechless! After a few seconds, all he could say was, “Oh wow! Thank you for telling me.”

That was it. This just took a couple of minutes, but it made a difference not only for him but for me, too. I felt a sense of joy. I felt like that tiny thing meant something! I enthusiastically told my friends about this. The “five-minute favor”—I highly recommend it!

Take inventory of what saps your joy. Happiness can be circumstantial and fleeting, but joy is a gift from God, and we can have joy even in difficult circumstances. “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). But it’s important to realize that there may be things in our lives that steal our joy. Those are sometimes referred to as “killjoys.” Here is an excerpt of a helpful article:

Life, even for the best of us, has its ups and downs. That is not going to change, but there is a way to make the “ups” far more common than the “downs.” The key is to strive for joy rather than happiness.

The difference between the two is significant. Happiness is based on circumstances. If things are going well, we are happy; if they’re not, we are unhappy. Unfortunately, circumstances in today’s world are usually poor, so happiness is becoming more and more elusive.

Joy, on the other hand, is not tied to circumstances. Rather, it is the positive confidence one feels from knowing and trusting God regardless of circumstances. Joy is a key component of what Galatians 5 calls the “fruit of the Spirit.” It is a gift from God, but we must prepare our hearts to receive it by first identifying and eliminating those things that are robbing us of joy. There are three primary killjoys: selfishness, resentment, and fear.⁴

As we walk through life, we will deepen our relationship with the Lord through the suffering and difficulties we endured. By God’s grace, we will be more mindful of our blessings and more appreciative of our family and friends and God’s abundant grace and supply.

It is important that we not allow any negative emotions, thoughts, or moods to take hold in our lives. The killjoys mentioned—selfishness, resentment, and fear—can grow with time and become habits or automatic reactions. If you have allowed any of these killjoys to take root in your life, it’s important to take the time to seek the Lord, study the Word, and ask for His forgiveness. You can have a fresh start beginning today! The Lord can cleanse your mind and spirit and fill you with His joy.

When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.—Psalm 94:19

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.—Romans 15:13

Trials and tribulations can be a Beauty for Ashes experience that can cause us to reevaluate our lives and priorities. Painful times can prompt us to open our hearts to the Lord, helping us to discover valuable truths that we might have missed otherwise. It’s a great time to ask yourself and seek the Lord, “Is there any area I need to change in? Or is any course correction needed in my life?”

Remember that the source of our joy is Jesus. In the world, happiness is often associated with appearance, wealth, relationships, possessions, etc. The message the world is sending is that happiness comes from outside ourselves. We’re bombarded with messages that circumstances control our sense of joy. But in reality, our joy comes from Jesus. Love, joy, and peace are all fruits of the Holy Spirit. Jesus is the source of our joy! As we seek the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to reign in our lives, we can rediscover our joy. Praise the Lord!

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.—Habakkuk 3:18

They lift up their voice; together they sing for joy; for eye to eye they see the return of the Lord to Zion.—Isaiah 52:8

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.—1 Peter 1:8–9

Read by John Laurence.

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¹ https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2018/11/23/i-feel-forgotten

² https://goop.com/wellness/mindfulness/how-to-rediscover-joy

³ https://activated.org/en/relationships/anyone-and-everyone/caring/willie-and-the-five-minute-favor

⁴ https://gilroydispatch.com/are-there-any-joy-killers-in-your-life

Copyright © 2024 The Family International

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50 Verses on Joy

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50 Inspiring Bible Verses on Joy to Feed Your Soul

https://www.biblelyfe.com/blog/50-bible-verses-about-joy

Everyone wants to experience joy, but many don’t know where to find it. Fortunately, scripture provides countless verses that can help you find joy regardless of your circumstances. Here are 50 of the most encouraging and uplifting Bible verses about joy—reading them will encourage you no matter how difficult your circumstances are!

Joy in the Lord

One of the most powerful ways to find joy in the Lord is through prayer and worship. The Bible instructs us to "Rejoice in the Lord." As we praise God in worship our hearts are filled with joy. As you worship God, ask God to fill you with His Spirit. 

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. 

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. 

Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.



Psalm 16:11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Romans 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

1 Peter 1:8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory.

Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Psalm 94:19 When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.



Psalm 30:11 You have turned my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness.

Psalm 33:21 For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name.

Jeremiah 15:16 Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts.

Psalm 16:8-9 I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.

God’s Joy

1 Chronicles 16:27 Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place.

Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.



Luke 15:10 Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.

Matthew 25:21 His master said to him, “Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.”

3 John 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Joy of Obedience

As we obey God's commandments, we experience the joy of the Holy Spirit. We experience God's pleasure rising in us. If you find yourself stuck in despair, try obeying the Bible's instruction to love God and others. When we obey His commandment to love one another, we are striving to live according to His Word. And what a wonderful experience it is as He fulfills his promise to give us joy through obedience.

John 15:10-11 If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 16:24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Philippians 2:1-2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

The Joy of Salvation

Luke 1:47 And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.

Psalm 71:23 My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed.

Isaiah 35:10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

1 Peter 1:8-9 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Luke 2:10 And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”

Acts 13:47-48 For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, “‘I have made you a light for the Gentiles, that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth.’” And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

Romans 5:11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.

Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.

Rejoice in the Lord

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.

Psalm 118:24 This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.



Psalm 5:11 But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you.

Psalm 32:11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

Psalm 28:7 The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.

Psalm 47:1 Clap your hands, all peoples! Shout to God with loud songs of joy!

Joy in Trials

James 1:2-4 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Romans 5:3-5 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

John 16:22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 

Psalm 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.



Hebrews 12:2 Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 7:4 I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.

1 Peter 4:13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.



2 Corinthians 8:1-2 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.

The Wisdom of Joy

Proverbs 17:22  A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. 

Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish. 

Romans 12:15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.

Psalm 126:5 Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!

Proverbs 15:23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Quotes about Joy

Joy is prayer. Joy is strength. Joy is love. Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls. - Mother Teresa

Joy is the simplest form of gratitude. - Karl Barth

Joy is the serious business of heaven. - C. S. Lewis

Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering, it is the presence of God. - Sam Storms

Joy can only be real if people look upon their life as a service and have a definite object in life outside themselves and their personal happiness. - Leo Tolstoy

A Prayer for Joy

Rejoice, rejoice, again I say rejoice. Lift up your countenance to the Lord, for He is good, and His mercies endure forever.

My Lord and my God, you are tender and merciful. Your kindness is like a cold fresh breeze that awakens me from discouragement and despair.

You tend to my soul. You know my weakness and my frailty. You love me despite my failures, and you long for me to be filled with Your joy.

Lord, I confess that I get distracted by the cares of life, and regularly loose sight of your goodness. I have a tendency to get discouraged easily. I confess that I focus too much on myself and my problems instead of focusing my attention on You.

Lord if there is any unconfessed sin in my life, if there is any barrier I have placed between us that is hindering the flow of joy in my life, please reveal it to me so I can surrender it to you.

Thank you for my life, and the capacity you have given to me to experience Your joy. Thank you for my family. Thank you for my home. Thank you for friends who care about me and who share my interests. Thank you for my work. I pray that you would fill it with meaning and purpose, and that you would give me opportunities to honor you with it.

Lord I ask that you would fill my heart with joy. Your Spirit is full of joy. Fill me with your Spirit. Lord I surrender to your Spirit. I surrender to your leading. Help me experience the joy of the Lord. Help me to find my happiness and contentment in You.

Amen.

Additional Resources

If these Bible verses have lifted your spirit, please pass them on to others who might benefit from them as well. Now more than ever, our world needs the joy of the Lord.

In addition to the Bible, the following books have helped me to become a more joyful person, by helping me to take the focus off of myself and learning to live more fully in the presence of God.



Joy: God’s Secret Weapon for Every Believer

Born and raised under the oppression of Communist Bulgaria, author Georgian Banov escaped to the United States where he was embraced by the warmth and love of the "Jesus people." Encountering God led Georgian to a life of freedom and joy.

In this book, Georgian will help you:
· Know God as an affectionate Father
· Discover performance-free grace
· Put an end to religious striving and self-effort
· Find victory over the power of sin
· Be the hands and feet of Jesus in the world



The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

The profound peace and joy evident in Lawrence’s life attracted many people who sought to learn the secret of his unique spiritual practice.

Originally published shortly after his death, this book consists of Lawrence’s personal conversations and letters, which communicate how one can experience the joy of the Lord.





The Joy of Listening to God by Joyce Huggett


Joyce shares her journey of discovery, learning to experience joy by listening to God in prayer.

After reading this book, prayer became less of a discipline and more of a time to be with God.

As I learned to hear God’s voice, I grew in contentment and joy. I hope you will too.

These recommended resources are for sale on Amazon. Clicking on the link will take you to the Amazon store. As an Amazon associate I earn a percentage of the sale from qualifying purchases. The revenue I earn from Amazon helps to support the maintenance of this site.
Nathan | Editor | Bible Lyfe

A graduate of Asbury Seminary, Nathan co-founded Christ Community Church with a fervent mission to serve the poor while making disciples of all nations. In 2017, he started Bridgetown Ventures, a ministry that empowers the marginalized to be architects of change in their own communities. In his transformative book, Storm the Gates, Nathan invites readers to embody the core values essential to fulfilling the Great Commission, serving as a clarion call for compassion, faith, and global discipleship.

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