Joy may seem impossible when your in the midst of your brokenness, but with God, nothing is impossible. In fact, the Bible says:
My brethren, count it all JOY when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4NKJV
So our trials, that bring the brokenness, can be the cause or an occasion for joy. I can immediately feel the defenses go up, “You have no idea what trial I am facing. There is no way that it will be the cause for joy.” Just because you can count it as joy, does not mean you will experience the joy it will cause in that moment.
We have an amazing example of how to find joy in the brokenness. The example is Christ. He was sinless, and yet suffered all that was required to be paid by us, and did it with joy.
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-3
I can not prove it, but I do not believe that joy was the cross. I believe it had to have been what He knew would come, a restoration in our relationship with the Father.
Joy comes through the testing of faith, the producing of patience. Christ’s faith was tested and His patience was perfected. It is only when the work is perfect and complete, lacking nothing that the joy we counted on comes. You can hold on to the truth that joy will eventually come.
Instead of your shame you shall have double honor, And instead of confusion they shall rejoice in their portion. Therefore in their land they shall possess double; Everlasting joy shall be theirs. Isaiah 61:7
You might not be able to see the cause for joy in that specific circumstance of brokenness, but I will bet that if you look hard enough, you can find something else to give you joy in the moment. If you are a follower of Christ, a Christian, the fruit of His Spirit lives in you. The fruit of the Spirit includes joy. It is in you, you have to choose to express it. Scriptures are filled with causes for joy, just a few from the 150 scriptures that mention joy:
The Greek word for joy used in James 1:2 is chara, meaning joy or gladness. In the James 1:2 scripture it is the cause or an occasion for joy. However, in other verses chara also can mean the joy received from you. If you find yourself in a time of brokenness, make a decision to do something that will bring another person joy. Be that cause of someone else’s joy. It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture, but an intentional one.
Joy in the brokenness will not come easily, but it is possible and available in Christ. We can hold on to the truth that Joy will come. We can look to things in the midst of our brokenness where we can find joy. We can also let other’s receive joy through our intentional actions. Christ is the perfect example of joy in the brokenness. He faced the cross knowing that the joy before Him would come, His joy was found in God’s presence, and He made an intentional decision to do something for us, regardless of our choice, that could produce joy in us.
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This blog post is inspired by Anita Ojeda and the #Write28Days Challenge. The challenge is to write 28 days in February. For more posts on this topic go to Broken Vessel.
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