Keeping Our Joy

And on that day they offered great sacrifices, rejoicing because God had given them great joy. The women and children also rejoiced. The sound of rejoicing in Jerusalem could be heard far away. — Nehemiah 12:43

She waited until I had spoken to every woman in line. Before she spoke a word, I could see and sense her grief. With quivering lips and tear-filled eyes, she spoke words no mother wants to say:

Please pray for my 15-year-old daughter. She’s pregnant.

This woman has loved and served God in her home, church and community for years. Now she does nothing. Ashamed, she blames herself for her child’s choices and, because of them, considers herself unworthy to serve.

Many Christians fall into this same trap. They allow the enemy to rob them of their peace, steal their joy and kill their witness over situations beyond their control.

Satan is a liar who wants us to believe that God has abandoned us and can’t possibly bring anything good out of a difficult situation.

So how do we find joy in the midst of heartache? We find it by remembering the truth about God. We review His faithfulness in the past, we consider His provision now in the midst of our pain and we hope for the good He will bring in the future. We choose to believe that God is for us, in us, with us and behind us 100 percent, and we give thanks with a joyful heart.

We all experience situations that can steal our joy. But joy is not defined by our circumstances. It’s based on our relationship with God, who, in due time, will bring us out of our present situation. Exercising faith in God — not circumstances — aids the discouraged heart so that Satan cannot steal our joy or our purpose.

More Verses to Explore:

Psalm 27:6

John 10:10

James 1:2-4

Excerpted with permission from NIV Real-Life Devotional Bible for Women with notes from the women of Proverbs 31 Ministy: Lysa Terkeurst, Karen Ehman, Renee Swope, and many more, copyright Zondervan.

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Your Turn

Stop for a quiet moment and ask the Lord “In what ways have I allowed the enemy to rob me of my peace, steal my joy, and kill my witness over situations beyond my control?” Today, let’s choose joy in the midst of painful and difficult circumstances. Come share with us on our blog. We want to hear from you about keeping our joy! ~ Faith.Full