Seeking Joy

Seeking Joy God on Monday
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But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shout for joy when his glory is revealed’ (1 Peter 4.13)

Reflection

Joy can be a foreign concept to those experiencing hard times at home or work. Lately, I have been thinking about how I can actively pursue joy, even though trouble seems to have a way of finding me.

Jesus has promised his followers that we will have trouble but also that he will be with us. I think his ’I will be with you’ gives grounds for us to be joyful. If we are not careful, we might focus so much on the trouble we find ourselves in that we enter a stagnant state of being. If we stay there too long, we might lose sight of the very one we are suffering with.

Rejoicing in adversity means seeking joy as an act of defiance and perseverance, whatever the enemy might throw at us. As we run toward joy, God runs towards us, to sustain and strengthen us.

If we allow our minds and souls to be filled with the gratitude that comes from knowing that we suffer with Christ, we will create space for wellness in our lives. We will get a foretaste of the fullness of joy that will be ours when Christ returns. When trouble seeks, seek joy.

Response

In the passage from which the verse above is drawn, Peter poses four challenges that suggest our response. Think about how they apply to our work and non-work circumstances:

Humble ourselves before God
Cast our anxiety on God, who cares for us
Be alert and sober-minded, for the enemy prowls like a lion
Resist the enemy and keep the faith

Prayer

Father, help me submit to your will and cast my anxiety on you in every area of my life. May I be alert to, and resist the enemy’s lies and schemes. Help me to keep trusting in the goodness of each day. May my joy be an act of courage and worship that brings honour and glory to you.

This Week's Author

Mekdes Haddis, Author of A Just Mission.

God on Monday is produced in partnership with the Church of England. The reflections are based on the scriptural readings designated for the coming Sunday in the Church's lectionary. You can sign up to Faith in Business here to receive each God on Monday instalment.

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