Rejoice in the Wilderness?

“But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.”

Psalm 5:11

My little brother loves to sing. The other day the lyrics of his self-composed tune caught my attention. “I will rejoice in the wilderness”, he sang. I haven’t forgotten that since. In fact, this has been on my mid a lot. Some days my life feels pretty close to a wilderness. Surely I don’t have to rejoice when life is rough. I have every right to be despondent and grumpy if life isn’t going “just so”, right? Then, on Tuesday night it was my turn to teach at children’s club. Guess what the lesson title was? “Living a Joy-filled Life.” I suppose I have some things to learn in this area! It was good for me to study this topic and evaluate my own life.

Here is some of what I learned:

• Joy is not dependent on circumstances
  Joy goes deeper than happiness. It is choosing to be cheerful even when there isn’t much reason for happiness. If we choose contentment and joyfulness in our hearts, we will be able to accept our circumstances and be joyful in spite of them.
  “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18
• In Jesus presence is joy
  If you are feeling discouraged or feel like you have a lack of joy, spend time with Christ! He is the source of true joy.
  “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore.” Psalm 16:11
• Satan will try to discourage us from being joyful
  He will do this in many ways, whether it’s guild over past, forgiven sin, or doubting God, or he might try to distract us with temporal, short-term joy. If we realize this, it should drive us to fight for joy.
  “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24-25

“I will praise thee, O Lord, with my whole heart: I will shew forth all thy marvelous works; I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.”

Psalm 9:1-2

Written by Ginger