Feeling Joyful in Any Circumstance
“My brothers and sisters, when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy, because you know that these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.” - James 1:2-3
How can I feel joy when life seems like it’s falling apart? Feeling joy in hard times seems impossible. That is right but it can be done with God’s help. God provides us with joy that we need and can experience. He makes it possible with the help from the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit produces the feeling of joy in us. The Holy Spirit also produces love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control in us (Galatians 5:22-23).
God allows us to go through hard times to test us and to produce certain characteristics in us, but mostly to produce the characteristics of Christ. That is the main reason why we should feel joy in any circumstance. God is using our pain, loss, struggles, and trials to help us become more like Christ. God has a purpose for everything and does not want us to rebel against Him but to feel joy in everything that happens (Romans 5:1-5).
Paul felt joy and contentment in his circumstances. He knew that God allowed things to happen to him for his own good. God allowed him to suffer to keep him humble. In addition, he was beaten, shipwrecked, hungry, and abandoned by his friends (2 Corinthians 11:25-27). Even through all his hardships, he still felt joy (Philippians 4:11). All the joy he felt was possible by knowing God had a reason for his painful circumstances (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Prayer of the day:
Dear heavenly Father,
Please help us when we struggle to feel joy in our circumstances. Feeling joy is hard especially when we have never had to go through hard times. With Your help from the Holy Spirit, we can feel joy and contentment in our painful situations. Our pain and troubles can help to produce the characteristics of Christ in us. It also helps us to become more patient and remain humble. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen!
