Joy

K-Lai — Tue, 11 Nov 2003 09:54:00 -0800

“Now to Him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey Him – to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”
- Romans 16:25-27 (NIV)

No matter what happens in life, whether it’s failing classes, broken relationships, depression, loneliness, physical illness, injury, whatever, Christians will always have the overflow of eternal joy through Jesus Christ. It is this joy that is consistently expressed within those who have a relationship with God that the “gospel” is established and proclaimed. Even when Christians are depressed and have bad days (yes, it happens to everyone), it seems like there’s something different that comes out of that depression – just a simple note of encouragement or spending time with a friend really lifts up the spirit of the depressed Christian. Just yesterday I was feeling incredibly lonely and depressed, and simply by spending time with friends and talking things out helped me to regain the joy that comes from knowing God.

I say this not to belittle those who struggle with clinical depression – it is a real condition and affects so many people. Hold fast to the promises made in the Bible. Jesus said that He came to give us life, and life to the full (John 10:10). No one can snatch us away from Him (John 10:28-29). Many key figures in the Bible had periods of depression – David, Elijah, Moses, Job, Jeremiah, the list goes on and on. Even Jesus often felt alone and cut off, depressed and felt that no one cared about Him. It’s the essence of Christianity – God, in His infinite love, came to take upon Himself all the sins of the world, and be tortured, forsaken, jeered, insulted, beaten, and killed. However, as Paul went on to say in the last part of Romans 16 (it does seem like I went of topic…) that this was so that “all nations might believe and obey Him.” For Jesus Christ did not simply die and disappear from this world, but He raised Himself from the dead (Philippians 2:5-11) and this was done to glorify Himself both as Son and Father. This is why David can write psalms that begin with him totally depressed, but then finish with statements about praising God and giving Him the glory. He knows what He’s doing. He’s the only wise God. To Him be all the glory!

k-lai.com: Joy

Joy