We help one another find joy because of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Let’s keep walking in faith as we live in our present. Sometimes our “nows” fill us with excitement, and other times they fill us with trepidation. But God, in his infinite wisdom, gives us each other, the body of Christ, to strengthen and encourage and love one another. 

Is your summer filled with joy? Or do you find yourself shaking your head in disbelief as you race to keep up with the days? God holds time in his hands as well as our hearts so we can trust him with these days. 

Find Joy Scripture

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:6-9 ESV

Joy and grief rest side by side. Trials and faith work hand in hand. Fire and praise pull a response from our lips. We don’t see yet we do. This is the mystery of knowing God. It is the infinite wonder of a life surrendered to him. That we might know the fullness of the love of God and the ability to rejoice even when life takes our breath away. 

How do we explain this joy? In these verses, Peter writes that it’s the type of joy that is inexpressible. It’s a joy that must be experienced to be understood. And to understand it, we must live our lives fully aware to our circumstances. 

So in the days of busy and crazy, remember to breathe. Let’s inhale and exhale. See the sunrise and sunset. And always remember God is with us in the good and the hard. Joy shines when we remember your goodness to us.

Prayer to find Joy

Holy God, 

We say, Holy, Holy, Holy are you, Lord. Your ways are higher than ours and yet, your thoughts are tender towards us. God, we ask that you would pour inexpressible joy on us as we believe you for peace, goodness, and your timing in our circumstances. How you love us and so we love you back.

Lord, we grieve. We grieve over our losses and disappointments, our wounds and our pains. We hold our brokenness up to you and surrender the pieces of shattered dreams to your healing touch. Touch us with your love that we might rejoice and bring you glory and honor as you reveal yourself to us.

Lord, we adore you. We surrender because you are love and even when we cannot see you, we trust you. Fill us with your joy as we walk in faith. 

In Jesus’ name, 

Amen

From the Joy Series:

Joy