Got Joy?

Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The other day I told my friend that my “patience” was being tested. And, as usually happens, more and more things and events present themselves to do the work of testing. Like steel, the strength of your patience is determined by the STRESS it can handle without buckling or allowing the structure to fall. Also like steel, patience is made stronger by forging it in fire.

But… I was wrong!

It is not the steel of patience that is being forged in my life. Though patience is necessary to build a strong vessel for the soul, the most important product of this fiery furnace called life on earth, is FAITH. An enduring vessel built on a solid foundation of Peace with God and built with the supernatural material, the Peace of God.

James 1:2-4 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 

I realized this week that the various trials happening in my life are useful for so much more than mere patience. Whereas patience is useful, it is a human characteristic found in WILLPOWER. We can power through those times that hold some amount of frustration but are within our range of strength to handle. These exercises in character building, no doubt make us happy when they are finished.

But… the result of patience is NOTHING compared to the victory dance of enduring faith. JOY! Not just an internal happy… but a perfect and complete, lacking in nothing sense of PEACE!

Rejoice (in the Lord) always; again I will say, rejoice!

The peace with God – the internal knowledge that… neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39) 

The peace of God – the internal knowledge that… I have learned to be content (ENDURING) in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.(Philippians 4:11-13)

Joy! The Lord is near! 

Peace! Be anxious for nothing… the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Contentment! I can do all things through Him who strengthens me

Note to Self… tell your friend… not testing of my patience, testing of my JOY!

I’VE GOT IT… no, I’m getting it… perfect and complete, lacking in nothing… the victory dance of endurance…

I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy… along with the peace and contentment of an enduring faith…

down in my heart… down in my heart…

to stay!

What a great song!

**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB  version of the Bible.