Sharing Our Faith Together

Finding Joy

by Alan and Clarice Smith 6 April 2022
First published 9/4/2021. We continue to post new thoughts but hope you find encouragement and blessing from revisiting some we have previously published.

Read John 16:20 - 27

Let us keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on whom our faith depends from beginning to end.  He did not give up because of the cross!  On the contrary, because of the joy that was waiting for him, he thought nothing of the disgrace of dying on the cross, and he is now seated at the right-hand side of God's throne. (Good News)Hebrews 12:2

Many people live with pain, even more so during the recent times of the pandemic.  Pain can be mental, emotional or spiritual in nature, and the hurt is often greater than bodily pain.

Jesus endured the suffering of the cross, which included every type of pain.  He suffered obvious physical pain, but along with that came the sorrow and grief of leaving his disciples, the shame of public humiliation and the feeling of rejection by his Father as he hung on the cross.  Yet Jesus was able to look ahead to the joy that was to come.

We have all heard stories of people who despite suffering great pain seem to have a serene peace surrounding them.  The definition of Joy in the dictionary is ' a deep feeling or condition of happiness or contentment'.  Joy includes gladness and delight.  Joy goes beyond the relief of pain, in fact it seems to be the very opposite of pain.

Faith calls us to look beyond our pain to a time when our health, happiness and even our joy can be restored.

Jesus is always our example and guide for overcoming the difficulties of life, especially when we are hurting.

Many are hurting during these difficult times and need our prayers

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Prayer
Dear Lord, be with us in our difficult times.  May we abide in your presence, where we can find joy.  Amen