Joy in everything?

kentappel · Jul 5, 2017

Some people say that we are to have joy in every circumstance and while, yes, we are to worship God no matter what as he knows best for all concerned, we don't have to have joy in everything especially when bad things are happening.

Example, Job's family was killed and he was afflicted with terrible sores on his body. He still worshipped God no matter what but he was not joyful as he tore his hair out and ripped his clothes in mourning and then he fell down on his knees saying the Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.

You can give the stock answer that everyone repeats that in the end he was rewarded with a new family and more material goods than he had before God let Satan afflict him. But I am sure that until the day he died he still mourned and missed his first family. Point is, it is OK to not be joyful for everything, Job was not but he still worshipped God anyway, no matter what. He never cursed God.

tourist · Jul 5, 2017

My wife and I started reading Job today, a book that we are both well acquainted with. I tend to agree with you, how is it possible to have joy through a long and painful period of sorry. The important thing is that Job did not curse God and die like his wife suggested. He remained faithful to God to the end. It is a story of perseverance while undergoing severe trial.

Seekingfamily · Jul 5, 2017

This use to give me great turmoil inside, as people lashed out at me for being sad or angry. Bible study, and Jesus took that feeling away!

onlinebuddy · Jul 5, 2017

It's definitely not a sin to be sad. The earth is full of miseries. However, our hope in in God. That's the reason we rejoice.
The Bible encourages us to be Joyful always, but it does not stop there. It tells us to Rejoice in the Lord! Knowing God is one of the greatest reason to rejoice.

Being overwhelmed by some unfortunate situation and mourning is OK. However, we are encouraged to shift our gaze to the one above, and the joy will come.

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.Romans 12:12

1ofthem · Jul 5, 2017

Yeah, I agree that not all things that happen in life are joyous, and I think God understands all of our emotions. At hard times in our life, God is a shoulder to lean on.

There have been times in my life, all I could do was pour my heart and tears out to Lord. There was no joy in my circumstances at that time. The only joy was in putting my trust and hope in him and letting him comfort me.

Meggido · Jul 5, 2017

kentappel said:

Nehemiah 8.10b says:
the joy of the Lord is your strength.

Joy is resting in the gladness that the Lord has, in taking care of, the issue that has come against you, and is working out for your good and on your behalf.

Joy is a spiritual strength, not a human emotion.

kentappel · Jul 5, 2017

kentappel said:

It is OK to not feel joyful when terrible things happen. Yes, Job never cursed God and he worshipped Him no matter what but he did tear his clothes and rip his hair out in mourning. He had hope that God would make things right which he did in the end. We always have hope but it is OK not to feel joy in everything. God did not create unfeeling robots.

Jesus even wept when His friend Lazerous died. So was Jesus, in His humanity at the moment, Joyful? No He was not joyful at that moment and that is OK.

Seekingfamily · Jul 5, 2017

Jesus even cried and got angry

oldethennew · Jul 5, 2017

our Joy comes from the knowledge that what ever we are going through or experiencing
whether good or bad, we have our 'assurance and hope and promise of Christ's never ending Love',
and we have to remember that this will always, always, get us through what ever is thrown down
in our paths...it's our Faith-Hope-Charity, God's given gifts for 'over-coming'

...

AllenW · Jul 5, 2017

Job said this 16:20-21:
"My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as a man pleads for his friend."

MattforJesus · Jul 5, 2017

Happiness and joy are different.Happiness is controlled by us,and joy is controlled by Jesus.We can lose our happiness temporarily,but cannot lose our joy.

Jesus said He gives us joy that no person can take away,for no matter how people act towards us,or what problems we have that joy will not go away,not that we might not feel sad,or angry,but when we feel those emotions,joy is there also,it does not go away while we are experiencing human emotions,for this is not a human emotion,but a trait of Jesus,so we can have both the human emotion,and the trait of Jesus,joy,at the same time.

The joy of the LORD is our strength for it is what keeps us going in living for God,for when people offend us,that joy will cause us to still love them,and forgive them,and when we experience problems that joy will see us through them without getting upset and causing us to waver in living for God.

Also the Spirit is our Comforter,and the Father gives us power,love,and a sound mind,and peace that passes all understanding.

Joy,peace,love,and a sound mind,and comfort,causes the Christian to be able to keep on track with God,for people offending them,and problems,do not get them down to the point where they are depressed like the world,but can bounce back and still keep going.

Joy never goes away even when we are sad,for the human emotion of sadness can push the happiness emotion away temporarily,but the human emotion of sadness cannot push joy away,for it is not of us,but by Jesus a part of us.

Joy is there no matter what emotion we have,that is why Jesus gives us joy that no person takes away.They make us mad,joy is there,they make us sad,joy is there.

tourist · Jul 5, 2017

I believe that this passage makes it clear that there is certainly not joy in everything but that it's possible for sorrow can turn into joy.

John 16:19-20
Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Is this what you are asking yourselves, what I meant by saying, ‘A little while and you will not see me, and again a little while and you will see me’? [SUP] [/SUP]Truly, truly, I say to you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

breno785au · Jul 5, 2017

tourist said:

I think He was talking about His death and resurrection there.
Could also be more than one application to what He said.

Meggido was spot on, joy is spiritual, not emotional.
It is difficult to remain joyful in affliction, I think it remains a choice at the end of the day too. It is what carries us through the hard times.
The word says be joyful always, now, we can't say you can't be joyful always like mentioned in the OP, that says your thoughts contradict the word and are not understanding something somewhere in your belief. And that's quite okay, it's a learning journey this one.

FranC · Jul 5, 2017

MattforJesus said:

You've perfectly explained my understanding of happiness and joy.

Happiness is when you get a new car. It might last a week or a few weeks but eventually it will wear down.
It's a human feeling, as you've said.

Joy is an internal feeling that looks to God for its emotion.
One can feell joy while sitting in a hospital waiting for an operation.

If we love God and understand how much He loves us, the joy we have in knowing Him will never leave us.

I just thought of the Beatitudes:
Mathew 5:3 Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.

The poor in spirit understand their need for God, they know how poor they are without God. They are truly members of the Kingdom of God, or heaven --- same thing.

The Kingdom starts here. Joyful are those that are in it.

BeyondET · Jul 5, 2017

Sweat like blood isn't quite joyful thing, though for a purpose indeed yet everyone can have one of those unjoyful emotional days. Five prayers and surely more than that was but for writings that was enough.

Jh18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
Mt26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Mt26:37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Lk22:40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Lk22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Lk22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Lk22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Mk14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Mk14:37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Mk14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Mk14:39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
Mt26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
Mt26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Lk22:45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Mt26:43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
Lk22:46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Mt26:44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Mk14:36 <"Abba>, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Lk22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Mk14:40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Mk14:41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

FranC · Jul 7, 2017

BeyondET said:

Sweat like blood isn't quite joyful thing, though for a purpose indeed yet everyone can have one of those unjoyful emotional days. Five prayers and surely more than that was but for writings that was enough.

Jh18:1 When he had finished praying, Jesus left with his disciples and crossed the Kidron Valley. On the other side there was an olive grove, and he and his disciples went into it.
Mt26:36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray."
Mt26:37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.
Lk22:40 On reaching the place, he said to them, "Pray that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:38 Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me."
Lk22:41 He withdrew about a stone's throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed,
Lk22:42 "Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done."
Lk22:44 And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.
Mk14:35 Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Mk14:37 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Mk14:38 Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Mk14:39 Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
Mt26:42 He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."
Mt26:39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."
Lk22:45 When he rose from prayer and went back to the disciples, he found them asleep, exhausted from sorrow.
Mt26:43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy.
Lk22:46 "Why are you sleeping?" he asked them. "Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation."
Mt26:41 "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Mt26:44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.
Mk14:36 <"Abba>, Father," he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Lk22:43 An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him.
Mk14:40 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Mk14:41 Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.

Wow. Did YOU do this? Incredible.

I copied and pasted it to a file so I have it for future reference.
Thanks for posting it.

Joidevivre · Jul 7, 2017

Another perspective:

I can count all trials joy because it is only when things are dark can the true spiritual fruit of joy be seen if you completely trust the goodness of God to work good from that trial. Because that joy does not depend on circumstances - it is just there.

When things are going well, our own joy is easily seen. But it is only when there is no possible reason to feel happy, can the supernatural and miraculous joy deposited in our spirit can be shown.

It is a joy that supports our faith.

BeyondET · Jul 7, 2017

FranC said:

Thank you for the kind words, yes it is part of a project of mine to bring the four gospels into one book, not of my words but of the bible verses from the title to intro to the outro and everything in between. hopefully I'll complete it this year. any bible can be used to follow along.

here's a brief description.
Title of the book
Mk1:1 The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Intro,
Lk1:1 Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,
Lk1:2 just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.
Lk1:3 Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,
Lk1:4 so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

The opening verse
Jh1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

Outro,
Jh21:24 This is the disciple who testifies to these things and who wrote them down. We know that his testimony is true.
Jh20:30 Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.
Jh21:25 Jesus did many other things as well. If every one of them were written down, I suppose that even the whole world would not have room for the books that would be written.
Jh20:31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.

Muzungu256 · Jul 7, 2017

hmmm............. i think this is impossible for me atleast but having joy in all situations can be done.......... maybe if i wasnt living like the devil i would be better having joy in everything............

CherieR · Jul 7, 2017

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:
A time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
A time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
A time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;

Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

Joy in everything?

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