Thoughts on Joy...

As we're working on this study, I'm also finishing up a Beth Moore study I've been doing for a few months, and she brought up an interesting verse about joy.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
James 1:2-4

Most people (even most Christians) would consider it strange that anyone would find joy in trials, but that's based on the definition that joy = happiness. Clearly, when people in the Bible went through trials, they made no pretense about false-happiness. David spends chapter after chapter in psalms lamenting his circumstances. Many of the minor prophets show great sadness in the midst of their circumstances.

However, in the midst of their sadness, they always recognize why this great trial is occurring (usually God is trying to teach the Israelites something). In order to find joy, the prophets place the importance of the Israelites learning the lesson over the temporary discomfort. It's like a parent disciplining a child. I'm sure it grieves God to watch us suffer, but sometimes to become who God desires us to be, some refining by fire must occur.

Joy, is deciding that we will endure through a trial and believe that God has a greater plan on the other side. In fact, one of the verses most quoted about God knowing what's best is Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" But this verse is rarely told in context. Verse 10 says, "This is what the Lord says,'When seventy years are completed in Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.'"
God does not promise Israel a future and a hope until AFTER 70 years in exile in Babylon.

We like to think, "Oh, my future will be sunshine and rainbows if I trust God." But that's not what He promises. God knows what's best for us, but what's best may not be a lifetime of happiness and security. We must choose to have joy, in the midst of a trial, because we know that God really does know what's best.