Joy Unspeakable

What is the source of your joy?  I’m not talking about happiness because happiness depends on our circumstances.  If our circumstances are good then we are happy if our circumstances are bad then we are unhappy. Supernatural Christian joy is independent of our circumstances. When physical strength, personal wealth, health and friends disappear; when our circumstances fill us with fear or we are consumed by grief our joy is still ever present because our joy comes from a relationship with God; He is the source of our joy. 

One of my favorite verses in the bible is Deuteronomy 31:8;”The Lord is the One who will go before you.  He will be with you; He will not leave you nor forsake you.  Do not be afraid or discouraged”.  This verse got me through the most traumatic events of my life.  First when we lost our grandson, Caleb, to SIDS on Christmas Eve of 2006 and second when our daughter in law and two grandchildren were in a horrible auto accident that left our four year old grandson, Jason, paralyzed from the neck down.  Although I was grieving and filled with indescribable pain, my Joy never left me. 

Life is filled with events that we would rather not live through but we survive them and we become stronger than we ever would have been if they had never happened.  I wish Caleb had never died and I wish the accident never happened but………those events have brought me into a closer relationship with God.  If I had not experienced such deep anguish I would still be a happy little sinner thinking that all is right in the pit of my lukewarm Christianity. 

Without God we are mere humans ravaged by sin and unworthy of living.  The sacrifice of Jesus Christ saved me and you from death, a death that we deserve!  Because of faith in the risen Savior we have the promise of eternal life.  That alone should fill us with joy unspeakable.  

Scripture

For the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.           Romans 14:17