Encourage Me: Good

“I find joy in every day not because life is always good, but because God is.” (The movie, Redeemed, from Pure Flix)

Luke 2:19, New International Version

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.

How do you have real joy when you don’t feel happy? How can you experience authentic joy while experiencing authentic pain?

1. Treasure Jesus.

Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let your joy overflow. (Philippians 4:4, the Passion Translation)

Just like the difficult journey Mary and Joseph took to get to Bethlehem (and Jesus), we can treasure the joy God brings into our lives even during the difficult times of life.

2. Ponder your salvation often.

I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Live within my love. I have told you this so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your cup of joy will overflow. (John 15:9, 11, the Living Bible)

Don’t allow yourself to contemplate the negativity (and worry) about the bad in your life. Instead ponder (or think about) all the good God has bestowed on you as His child.

Christmas is all about a Baby Savior that changed everything in our lives (as well as our Heavenly destination one day).

God understands both the unique challenges and pain of each of His children.

Happiness comes from what happens to us. The other side of happiness is joy, which is not dependent on your circumstances, and is much deeper. It is okay to not always feel joyful, or to act like you are. God knows the real you all the time.

Hope and joy are always connected together (in any situation).

Jesus will both forgive you and lead (if you’ll only ask Him to).

“Joy is not necessarily the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God.” (Sam Storms) [i]

[i] Inspired by the sermon “The Thrill of Overflowing Joy: The Thrill of HOPE” (installment two) Sunday December 12, 2021, Pastor Dave Jansen, CenterPoint Gahanna (CPG). In-person services are available at all three U.S. CenterPoint locations. CenterPoint also has an online Sunday morning service (10am) that can be viewed at centerpointchurches.online.church or centerpointchurches.com/live.