Joy: A Trusting Hope
Where is the joy in the middle of the night soothing a crying child? Where is the joy when sudden loss invades your life? Where is the joy when relationships fail? Where is the joy when paying bills is a struggle? Is it enough to be thankful? Will that bring the joy back inside your heart?
Biblical joy is a trusting hope. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Hope. Our advent season started with hope. Hope week is inspiring. It gives us the faith and resilience to believe in what we can not see. But maybe now that the week of joy is here, you are wondering when it will come. Well, it’s here. It came with hope. Trust that the reason you are still going, the reason you can persevere through the hard, is because He is renewing your strength. If you are putting your faith and hope in the Lord, you are soaring. You are running and not growing weary. You are walking and not fainting. You are doing that in part right now by taking the time to read this devotional. May God show you today, right now, that because He is your hope, you really do have His joy.
Joy is not just the feeling of happiness based on your current circumstance. Another definition of Biblical joy is a feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Center your mind and heart around who Jesus is to you. Salvation, freedom, healing, peace- if He is any of those things to you, you have joy. Let’s believe today that He is our trusting hope; and because He is, we have joy. Because He is, I believe you will find the feeling of joy you may be looking for this season.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 1 Peter 1:8
PRAYER: God, I thank You that You are my joy. I thank You that You are renewing my strength day by day. I know I am here for a purpose, and knowing that brings me Your joy. Thank You. Amen.
Biblical joy is a trusting hope. “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” (Isaiah 40:31)
Hope. Our advent season started with hope. Hope week is inspiring. It gives us the faith and resilience to believe in what we can not see. But maybe now that the week of joy is here, you are wondering when it will come. Well, it’s here. It came with hope. Trust that the reason you are still going, the reason you can persevere through the hard, is because He is renewing your strength. If you are putting your faith and hope in the Lord, you are soaring. You are running and not growing weary. You are walking and not fainting. You are doing that in part right now by taking the time to read this devotional. May God show you today, right now, that because He is your hope, you really do have His joy.
Joy is not just the feeling of happiness based on your current circumstance. Another definition of Biblical joy is a feeling of good pleasure and happiness that is dependent on who Jesus is rather than on who we are or what is happening around us. Center your mind and heart around who Jesus is to you. Salvation, freedom, healing, peace- if He is any of those things to you, you have joy. Let’s believe today that He is our trusting hope; and because He is, we have joy. Because He is, I believe you will find the feeling of joy you may be looking for this season.
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” 1 Peter 1:8
PRAYER: God, I thank You that You are my joy. I thank You that You are renewing my strength day by day. I know I am here for a purpose, and knowing that brings me Your joy. Thank You. Amen.
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