The Messiah came to anoint those who mourn with the oil of joy. Isaiah 61:3b
Life Has Seasons
Think about that! Joy is a glorious thing. Calm delight is a treasure beyond compare and vital to our transformational journey through life. And that oil of joy is prepared to be poured over your head in the midst of whatever you are facing.
But life has seasons. If a season arrives prematurely, it might result in havoc and even lead to famine. As Believers in Jesus, we forget about seasons like winter, thinking the promise of the spiritual realm always supersedes the natural cycle of life to prevent us from suffering.
Pain is part of the equation; think about your life experiences!
- The joy of holding your living baby in your arms was preceded by months of discomfort and change, culminating in the rising loss of control, anguish, and even pain.
- The delight of earning your degree was preceded by faithful slogging away at the books, sacrifices, and denial of pleasures, even the loss of sleep.
The joy of salvation doesn’t erase the pain and discomfort, but suffering can draw us closer to the Lord.
The joy of salvation doesn’t erase the pain and discomfort, but suffering can draw us closer to the Lord.
The promise is the Messiah will console those who mourn. With tenderness, He anoints His own with the oil of joy as they grieve. Some of the most precious times of my life have been when tears were falling, but the joy of the Lord flooded my heart with hope. One day, the Lord will make all things right.
But meanwhile, there is life.
Biblical Help For Whatever Situation You Face
Do you face adversity? Suffering, especially when you don’t deserve it, can rob you of joy.
Take Action: Look beyond the suffering to the Lord Jesus, who is the Resurrection and the Life. He cares about your grief. Be intentional and grieve in His presence. Journal about your loss and what you are grateful for.
Permit yourself to lament. Rather than bury your grief or allow it to rule you – express your pent-up emotions and thoughts to Jesus. Take it out of your mind and “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 NIV).
The joyful news: Jesus is the Healer of the brokenhearted.
Take Action: David acknowledged his sin and asked the Lord to forgive him. Then he prayed, “Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” Psalm 51:12 (KJV).
The joyful news: The blood of Jesus cleanses you from all sin.
Take Action: Turn away from meditating on negative thoughts. No plaguing thoughts churning in your mind come from God. Their source is the kingdom of darkness. Name them for what they are. Rather than embrace them as truth, or speak them over yourself – reject them in the name of Jesus. Invite the Lord to be Lord. “As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalms 103:12 NKJV).
The joyful news: Praise Jesus, for in Him, there is no condemnation.
Are you ungrateful because of entitlement or a sense of injustice? If so, suffering and grief never seem to end.
Take Action: Study and memorize verses about joy. As you study, claim the beauty of those promises for yourself.
“So the ransomed of the LORD shall return, And come to Zion with singing, With everlasting joy on their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness; Sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” Isaiah 51:11 (NKJV)
The joyful news: One day, God shall wipe all tears from your eyes.
Dear Heart,
The Heavenly Father anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit.
He filled the disciples with joy and the Holy Spirit.
Be bold.
Ask the Lord to anoint you with the oil of joy of His Holy Spirit. Jesus looked beyond His suffering to the joy of seeing you experience peace with God. May you, like Jesus, say, “Not my will but Thine be done.”
Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 (NKJV)
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