This past weekend, I spent most of my time at a Christian retreat. While everyone else appeared to be having fun and enjoying themselves, I felt myself in conflict. Everyone talks about finding their joy completely in the Lord. Philippians 4:4 says "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"
I find that verse hard to agree with. I'm not saying that it should never be done, but I believe that it neglects the full range of human emotion. Not every day is filled with joy. Some days are better than others. Some days, everything goes wrong and falls apart. I think that on those days, the best thing to do is not to try to find joy, but peace. Take a breath and relax and remember:
1. God has always loved you for you are.
2. The day has only 24 hours. It will be over soon enough.
Sometimes we get so busy and so hyped up over things that we forget to take a moment of brief pause. We forget - I forget - to be still and know that he is God.
I remember the words that Marcus Lynn (the Pastor at a Church in Versailles, KY) said in one of his sermons: "Sunshine all the time creates a desert."
What I take from what Paul is saying in Philippians is not to abandon all other emotion, but to remember that the hardship that you are going through is just a moment in time. It has come, but will soon pass. So keep your head up. Keep going. Keep trying. And in the moments that you get weighed down, rejoice in the Lord for He loves you. Always.
3 comments:
I would submit that the joy that Paul is talking about is the same definition you are giving to peace :)
semantics. bah.
I think what Paul is talking about is that Rejoice in the knowledge that God loves you. When ever the day is bad you can still rejoice in the fact that God is there for you and that he loves you
Andrew,
I am glad to hear that you are still working out your salvation in fear and trembling. Having a relationship with the Lord is a patient endeavor--not because of His weaknesses (He doesn't have them) but because of ours. I am glad you are seeking joy in the Lord, even if by being content that not every day or moment is "joyous," it certainly wasn't for Paul who wrote Philippians--he was shipwrecked 3x, stoned, beaten with rods, thrown in prison, slandered, and eventually killed for seeking joy in Christ and yet He seemed to be full of joy--this tells me I probably don't understand the fullness of joy he talked about very well, but I want to pursue it!
Anyway, I hope you are doing well. I still pray for you and think about you often. We should catch up soon!
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