EXCEEDING JOY Speaker: Sis. Stella Dhinakaran Gist: God wants you to be filled with exceedingly great joy. We live in a world wherein everyday we face situations that are bound to bring unexpected sorrow.
You may worry saying, “Why has this situation befallen me? Thus far my life had been going very smoothly but suddenly why this calamity? Why is my family divided? Why should I have to grieve? Or, What had now happened to my child who was very good earlier?” Dear friend, “Do not be worried.” The Bible says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes” (Psalm 119:71).
A righteous man named Job who lost everything laments, "Oh, that my grief were fully weighed, and my calamity laid with it on the scales! For then it would be heavier than the sand of the sea” (Job 6:2,3). The sorrow that came upon Job is indescribable. He firmly clung to the Lord by saying, “God knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold” (Job 23:10).
He lost his ten children and all his assets in a single day. He also lost his health. Even in that stage he only said, “The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away, Blessed be the name of the Lord.” When we meditate on this aspect, we wonder what great unshakeable faith Job had on God! What a magnificent hope he had in God!
The Lord will turn all your sorrows too, when you keep your trust upon Him fully.
In a family, the husband had love for the riches of the world. So, he threatened and sent away his wife to be with her parents claiming for more possessions. But, her parents, who were already in a deprived situation, were not able to satisfy his wants. In the midst of her intolerable sufferings, she cried unto the Lord saying, “You are my hope. I hold firmly to Your promise which says, “Your sorrow will be turned into joy.” This promise is the blessing that you bring for me.” She claimed the promise for her own and prayed diligently with tears and fasting.
The Lord listened to her faithful prayer and turned her husband's love towards his wife. He took her back home and lived happily with her. Her sorrow was turned into joy.
Today God wants to come close to you. He would ask you, “My dear son/daughter, what do you want?” and would fill you with indescribable joy. He would say, “It has been a long time that you struggled and have been lonely. You have cried out to Me for a very long time and therefore I have come to you. Let me turn your sorrow into joy. Do not be worried. I will never leave you comfortless. Today I will bless you.”
Dear friend, when you keep your trust upon God, your sorrow will be turned into joy.
Prayer:
Almighty God,
I praise and thank You from the bottom of my heart for having promised me that my sorrow would be turned into joy. Help me to be a blessing to my family and others so that they will see the exceeding joy in me. I keep my trust upon Your promises and claim it everyday. May Your eyes be upon me and my family and bless us this day.
In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.
Amen.
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