joy and sorrow continued...

What does God say of Joy and Sorrow?

Many suffer and fall away from the Lord due to a false premise of thinking that they will have no tribulations when they come to Christ. If they have enough faith they will be healed or will have "the favor". I am saddened by this type of thinking.

The bible speaks of tribulations as a way to glorify God. Through trials we stand in faith and love to the One who created us. We learn of dying to self, becoming selfless - like Christ who died for us. He gave up all things for us. That is selfless. If we are continually seeking our own gratification; what we can get out of life and question why bad things happen to us, then perhaps it is time to read the bible a bit more carefully.

Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there 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

The trials in life allow us to reach out to God. They are meant to bring us to our knees. They are to edify, to teach, to show us that we are in need of our Creator. He created us and He saved us. How do we repay that? By crying and whining about how hard we have it? If we lose an arm do we not have another?

Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Psalm 51:8

If we lose both arms do we not have a leg? If we lose everything - our purity, our innocence, our voice, our sight, our family, our spouse - do we not still have our heart?

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart -- These, O God, You will not despise. Psalm 51:17

It is awesome to think that a Creator would allow us to go through the pain and hurts of life in order to break our hearts so that we may see His sovereignty, His holiness, His love.

written by Paul while bound in chains:

But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Philipians 1:12-14

The spiritual life is bigger - more important to God than the physical. He deals with our hearts (I see a continuing theme here). What are our intentions? Where does our faith, loyalty and love reside?

They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Psalm 126:5