The Joy of Jesus

1 Peter 4:19

So if you are suffering according to God's will, keep

on doing what is right, and trust yourself to the God

who made you, for He will never fail you.  (NLT)

     No matter who you are or where you live on this sin infected earth, you will suffer.  No human is immune from the pit falls of living in a world that has turned away from its Creator. Because mankind decided to live apart from God's influence, human suffering is as much a part of living as breathing is, because with sin and rebellion there comes consequences.  All people experience sickness and poor physical health, whether it’s from disease, natural disasters, accidents, or the aging process.  We also experience a variety of emotional sufferings like sadness, regrets, disappointments, and depression, which also takes its toll on the quality of life. We may escape some of these sufferings for a while or simply die at a young age, but inevitably we will all suffer greatly as we live into the later years.  Pain and hardship is a reality of life, some experience more than others, but nonetheless, suffer we must until our earthly body can no longer support this difficult life.

     So you know that suffering and disasters and dying is just the way it is.  But do you know that you are only a decision away from making this short stretch of your life-journey worth all the pain and suffering that it brings?  Well, when you belong to the Almighty Lord God and Savior, Jesus Christ and accept His sufferings and death as your own, the sufferings you experience in this life will be replaced with a glorious new life that makes any sufferings in this life a very small price to pay.  This gift from God is indeed a life-changer, for when you know you have the forgiveness of God and His promise of a perfect, eternal life sharing in His glorious inheritance, which you cannot possibly begin to imagine, it puts a whole new light on living this difficult life.  With Christ Jesus dear friend, your suffering will turn to a joy so deeply rooted in your heart, that even the powers of Hell cannot strip it away from you.

                                    A Whisper of Hope

I know this life is hard, dear child...but live in Me and I will make up for all the sufferings you must face. I will not only get you through to the other side with joy, but I will bring you peace and comfort in your sufferings until that time.  Trust Me!

Philippians 3:9, 10

But I trust Christ to save me.  For God's way of making us right with

Himself depends on faith.  As a result, I can really know Christ and

experience the mighty power that raised Him from the dead.  I can

learn what it means to suffer with Him, sharing in His death.   (NLT)

          May you be filled with joy, always thanking

              the Father, who has enabled you to

                     share the inheritance that 

                        belongs to God's holy 

                 people, who live in the Light.

                            (Colossians 1:11)