INSPIRASUNS

I took some time off over the weekend from this little blog. I needed to let my mind rest a bit, and we had a busy few days at church. I mentioned on Friday that our Bishop was in town for his annual visit, so many events scheduled, including confirming many parishioners 🙂 .

He gave the sermon yesterday and it was filled with a message of hope. It was filled with opportunities for we as God’s children to bring His love to help repair relationships that have been broken. There is much division in this world and Jesus asks us to love others as He loved us. This means healing broken relationships, being there for those who are alone, and loving and guiding our youth. Yes, it was a message of hope, and a message of reconciliation.

Yesterday afternoon I received an email from a sister church in our town. Their priest was also sharing a message of joy. I share a portion of it here this morning because I think it is so important to find joy, and use laughter even in the most difficult times.

“In a world often filled with challenges and hardships, it’s easy to lose sight of joy. We’re conditioned to respond to difficulties with stress, anxiety, and sometimes even despair. But what if there was a different way? What if joy could be our companion, even in the darkest of times?

The fruit of the Spirit, as described in Galatians 5:22, includes joy alongside love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. This isn’t just a fleeting happiness that comes and goes with circumstances, but a deep-seated joy that can sustain us through life’s ups and downs.

Consider the story of Leo Biscaglia’s mother. When faced with the devastating news of her husband’s impending bankruptcy due to a partner’s theft, she made an unexpected choice. Instead of succumbing to despair, she sold her jewelry to buy food for a lavish feast. Her family scolded her, believing the money could have been better saved for leaner times ahead. But her wisdom shone through as she declared, “The time for joy is now when we need it most, not next week.” This courageous act rallied her family in their darkest hour.

This story begs the question: Is joy your companion in adversity? It’s natural to feel joyful when things are going well, but finding joy in struggle is a different matter entirely. It’s a strange, almost counterintuitive response – and yet, it’s exactly what we’re called to do as believers.

In the book of Nehemiah, we find a powerful proclamation. As the Israelites faced the daunting task of rebuilding Jerusalem’s walls amidst opposition and threats, Nehemiah declared, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). He didn’t encourage anxiety or fear in the face of their challenges. Instead, he pointed them to a supernatural source of strength – the joy found in the Lord.

This joy isn’t dependent on circumstances. It’s a choice to focus on God’s goodness and faithfulness, even when everything around us seems to be falling apart. It’s an acknowledgment that what we focus on grows. We can choose to dwell on our problems, or we can choose to set our gaze on the Lord and find strength in His joy.

As we navigate life’s challenges, let’s not neglect the power of joy. It’s not just a nice addition to our faith – it’s a vital component of our spiritual strength. The joy of the Lord can sustain us when nothing else can. It can lift our spirits, renew our hope, and give us the strength to persevere.

So today, whatever you’re facing, why not make room for joy? Smile, even if you don’t feel like it. Look for reasons to be thankful. Allow yourself to laugh. And most importantly, turn your eyes to the Lord, the source of all joy. You might just find that in choosing joy, you’re tapping into a strength you never knew you had.

Remember, joy is not the absence of sorrow, but the presence of God. May we all learn to embrace the surprising power of joy, even – and especially – in our moments of greatest adversity.“

I give thanks this morning friends, for a weekend of wonderful messages, messages from Father so clearly. I hope these simple messages fill your day with hope and joy 🙂 .

Have a great day, continued prayers too for the return of sweet Emily Rea.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.