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Joy Amidst Sorrow
February 14, 2016
Christians are not promised freedom from sorrow. Sorrows, troubles and grief are a part of life. What we are instructed to do is to rejoice even in the midst of our sorrows and troubles. That joy comes from knowing that Jesus died for us and that His blood cleanses us from our sins. Furthermore, we have joy as we contemplate eternal life in heaven with God the Father, and our Lord, Jesus Christ. - Bernie Parsons
Joy Amidst Sorrow
by Bernie Parsons
Presented to Globe church of Christ on 02-14-2016
Presented to Load church of Christ on 02-21-2016
The old preachers I heard in my youth often warned against “fair-weather
Christians” — those who praise God when things are going well but who
turn bitter and angry when things go awry. If we only have joy when
blessed abundantly, we are only fair-weather Christians. We must learn
to rejoice even while we sorrow.
The Christian life is promised to be one that attracts the ire of those
who live ungodly lives, and they will attack and disparage us. We will
also face the travails common to humankind.
1 Peter 4:12 "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial
which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings;
that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with
exceeding joy.
14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the
spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil
spoken of, but on your part he is glorified."
Jesus reminded His followers that they would sorrow over His departure
from their midst, yet they would rejoice afterward, when they would see
Him again. He likened it to the pains of labor that a woman suffers,
which pains are soon forgotten as she holds the new baby in her arms.
John 16:19 "Now Jesus knew that they were desirous to ask him, and said
unto them, Do ye enquire among yourselves of that I said, A little
while, and ye shall not see me: and again, a little while, and ye shall
see me?
20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but
the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow
shall be turned into joy.
21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come:
but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more
the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your
heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you."
In the Christian life, we face many pains, sorrows and troubles, but we
look forward to eternal life in heaven afterward. This faith and hope,
along with our love for God, supplies our joy.
Philippians 2:14 "Do all things without murmurings and disputings:
15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without
rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye
shine as lights in the world;
16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of
Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
17 Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your
faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
18 For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me."
The Holy Spirit produces a life full of special attributes that get us
through the suffering.
Galatians 5:22 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."
The very troubles that we endure lead us to a place of faith, hope and
love, giving us an inner peace even while the troubles of life rage
around us.
James 1:2 "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers
temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and
entire, wanting nothing."
Romans 5:1 "Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand,
and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that
tribulation worketh patience;
4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in
our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."
Many others have suffered before us, not the least of which is our Lord.
Our suffering may lead to physical pain and even death, as we studied
previously.
Hebrews 12:1 "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great
a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which
doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is
set before us,
2 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
is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against
himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds.
4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin."
It is the glory that awaits on the other side that drives us forward
through the pain and suffering.
Acts 20:22 "And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem,
not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds
and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto
myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry,
which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching
the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more."
1 Peter 1:3 "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a
lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,
4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not
away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to
be revealed in the last time.
6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye
are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold
that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise
and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet
believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
2 Corinthians 4:13 "We
having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed,
and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak;
14 Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also
by Jesus, and shall present us with you.
15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might
through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
16 For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet
the inward man is renewed day by day.
17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things
which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the
things which are not seen are eternal."
Romans 15:13 "Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in
believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy
Ghost."
Our faith is crucial to our success of achieving joy in the midst of
sorrows.
