By Zethu Zwane
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True Joy was supposed to be experienced in the garden of Eden. Due to the fall of man, we’re temporarily removed from 100% joy on earth. While you’re living this beautiful life you’ve been gifted, you’ll sometimes stumble. That’s why God gives you solutions to the many problem you’ll encounter on earth.
It’s true that this life has many trials. God said Himself that in this life you’ll face obstacles, but give thanks that in Christ, He has already conquered your every situation. Moreover, when people chose to have a human king as opposed to the Lord God Almighty, He warned us of the corruption, greed, and unkindness that would come with human power.
Again Jehovah gives you answers on how to overcome these moments, so you remain in His perfect peace. God gives you hope and lessons on Godly joy, so you find reassurance from any circumstance. In truth, God says the only joy you’ll ever keep is putting your hope in Him and not people, relationships or careers. In fact putting your hope in God’s Holy joy gives you peace in moments that otherwise aren’t peaceful.
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Habakkuk 3:17-18 NIV
Life is like one of your favorite destinations with a few bumps
Personally I needed this reminder while in my waiting season. For the longest of time, I was focusing on the obstacles on the road; from the peddles to the pot holes and the mountains on the road. And trust me it was exhausting trying to figure out my next obstacles.
Doesn’t it feel exhausting to have both perceived stress and real stress? Isn’t tiresome to magnify your problems as opposed to the Holy nature of God?
It’s only after reading a morning devotional that I realized I was magnifying the problems on the road as opposed to God’s Holy power. Let’s look at a road for a minute; doesn’t a road, even the smoothest of tar roads, have blemishes and a small pot hole here and there?
Not only that, but you could be going to your favorite destination and still come cross bumps along the way. If that’s the case, expect your life journey to have a few jolts here and there. Anticipate that in this life, you’ll encounter problems, greed and some unkindness.
When you face bumpy roads, put on the power of praise
However praise God that He conquered your every issue through the Blood of Jesus Christ! Give Him all the glory because for a little while God the Son walked this earth and faced the many bumps and pot holes you experience today. Don’t forget, God knows first hand what it feels like to have a friend sell Him for spare change.
Hopefully you never meet a Judas in you life; however, isn’t reassuring that Christ knows what you’re going through. I pray honest prayers to God. Like Lord I’m not happy, but in your word, it said you shall supply all my needs.
I love that Yahweh responds, and it was to stop focusing on people. If you need to refill your hope and peace with the assurance of Christ, continue reading to find how people in the Bible received an abundance of peace, joy and restoration when they chose to turn to God. There’s no situation too trivial, or too nasty for God to handle and these reminders will show you why.
When you feel depleted by people who always take
I’m sure if you’re in business, you’ve faced plenty people who take, take take, take and never think twice to give back. Even conversations can leave you depleted, due to the overwhelming fear induced from them. And what they give back feels like a fraction of hair. Many in business, certain careers, customer service or volunteer jobs understand how you feel.
In those moments when you feel like Joseph where you’ve helped people, yet you’re stuck in what feels like prison, remember what the Bible said. Remember Joseph at the time was left for dead by his brothers. Then he was sold off into slavery.
Unfortunately when he reached Egypt, his bumpy roads was bot over. That’s because the Pharaoh’s wife tried to sleep with him, but failed to seduce him. Since Jospeh refused to sleep with her, she falsely accused him of harrasement, and got him thrown away in prison. All this was while Jospeh was a faithful employee to the Pharoah.
The Bible is honest about what you’ll face, but it also delivers joy & hope
The Bible honestly documented how people can take from you, and forget that you’ve ever helped them. To make matters worse, Jospeh meets more takers on his journey. The Chief Cupbearer and the Chief Baker forgot all about how Joseph helped them get out of prison.
In the customer service industry, sometimes it feels more like a burden to assist people than it is a joy. Especially when you meet powerful people who use their position in society to be unkind as opposed to demonstrating manners.
Im sure many of you want to see more people express tehse disappointments in the midst of their trials. I’m sure Jospeh cried while sitting in prison for more months than necessary. However, The Bible said he burst out in tears at the sight of seeing his brothers. He bellowed so loud the whole of te Pharoah residence heard him.
I’m even sure Paul wanted to cry because that one Roman official kept him in prison hoping that Paul would bribe his way out. At some point, you can tell when someone is refusing to give you what you deserve. I’m certain Paul could see this in all the people he met. Yet none of these 2 bribed their way out, and all of them kept their eyes on God. Look how God restored them emotionally, spiritually and physically for their great faith in God’s promises.
Turning the Burdens of helping others into faithful service to God
When your business or career is at risk, sometimes it feels like a burden to assist people who never look back to help you. That temptation to bribe your way is always there. How about when you’re a coworker helping people who’ve sworn to be your enemy, yet you continue faithfully to assist them. In those moments, God is standing faithfully beside you, so how can you overcome this grief.
It may feel like a burden to assist coworkers who choose to kick you, berate you and bully you each and every day. Worse when they can’t understand why you’re still standing, so the bullying magnifies. Yet in your job, you find that your position calls you to work for those same people 95% of the time.
These moments bring great loneliness, sadness, weariness, anger and distress. These are deeply agonizing moments, because what they couldn’t see behind yourself is how you feel when you take your title off. Again how did the people in the Bible turn such agonizing moments into joy and recei God’s power?
Working for God will bring your lasting joy & peace
Every successful person in the Bible worked for God as opposed to people. Especially if you’re in a toxic work environment, or your suppliers have promised to deny you access. Keep the faith like Jacob did when he had to nurture his wicked uncle’s goats. His uncle promised him a wife, but cheated Jocan after he saw Jacob’s success. Still Jacob didn’t labor in vain because God decided to bless him where human refused. When You choose to work for God, you’ll see bountiful results.
Firstly you’ll see the promises of God magnify in your life. Yahweh will never leave you or forsake you when you turn the burden of your labour to Him. Pray and dedicate every activity you do to God, so that you see recovery and rest in hand have peace in Him that is . This is ones o the post transformative to live a life of Breakthroughs; when you turn your antiques and frustrations into prayerful hopes.
His holy power gives you endurance
Behind many people smiles is an agonizing desire to heal and recover. Yet how do you overcome your circumstances if it’s your 9-5? And no mater how much you pray, God will not remove you from these circumstances. You’ve got to pair what Joseph said to his brothers.
Joseph weeded; his pains of being left for dead, sold off to slaverly and the left in prison. Joseph cried a deep pain of relief and to cry the journey he’s encountered that has brought him out from a space of pain and deep anger to recover emotionally and spiritually.
God is the bridge and power overcoming all human limitations
You see through all Joseph’s trials, Yahweh was with Jospeh. It says the Cup Beaere and the Chief Baker forgot to save Jospeh after they left prison, but God continued to show favor on Joseph. That’s at the end of these trails, Joseph said he couldn’t blame his brothers for what they did. Instead these bumpy parts of his journey is what led Jospeh to rulingalmost over all of Pharaoh’s possessions.
Instead this journey, God turned his ashes into beauty. God strengthened Jospeh and positioned Jospeh to be able to speak and head all of Pharaoh land. During your time of need, God will empower you to overcome emotionally and spiritually all you face. When you allow the authority of God to govern you, your emotional capacity increases. Your ability to be paitient around takers increases.
Likewise your journey is not in vain. If you’re feeling as though too many people have taken from you, you need to rest in the power of God’s holy peace. Christ knows what it feels like to have people take, take, take, take, and not even think twice to give back to Him. Look at the example where Jesus heals 10 lepers. Only one came back to thank The Lord God Almighty for healing him.
Will you choose God to show you Godly joy & peace?
The rest moved on with their lives as if their healing was by their own strength. God knows very well your tired heart. He sees it and He’s also lived it. How many kings did the Lord bring victory, only for them to choose a foe over the Righteous Hand of God? Look at Asa, a king who won great victory, but later lost confidence in God. In his next war Asa chose to side with an enemy as opposed to God. Where did that leave Him?
Bible has countless stories for you to find peace when you need it. Turn these testimonies into prayers should you needs God’s Holy peace. What I love the most about the Bible is that God says joy is a shared experience. Joy is not only for you. I know right now your feelings of weariness, but God’s joy comes as a feast for all those around you to share.
He wants you to heal and recover, so you can share uour faithful testimony with others. This includes all those who’ve hurt you and loved you before. God is not responsible for Joseph’s brothers unkindness . That’s why God also asked Cain where is Abel. However, God prepared Joseph’s heart for forgiveness, so at the right time, Josphe could use his powerful position to save his brothers from a harsh drought. God positions Jospeh to receive favor and authority, so he could save even those who hurt him.
Lay your burdens daily to the Lord
Certain things may stress you right now, but take heart because God doesn’t allow you to face trials without Hope. Yes, in this world, you’ll encounter bumps and unkindness, but whenever you do, get on your knees and lay your burdens at the Lord’s throne. I speak honestly with God; “I’m not happy. I’ve helped X another hearts are still hardened. I’ve given solution to Y and I still see they want to cheat and steal.”
Yet Lord You said that Hope is when the angels in heaven will sing and your people here on earth will praise bringing foreigner, sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, strangers and neighbors will come together to glorify Your Name. So God help me find rest in your peace. Lord surround me with the Your perfect peace and help me see what I can’t see and give me your holy understanding.
These kinds of prayers will turn your stressors into wisdom and discernment. And prayig withing ceasing is also where you gain strength and the power of God. For example praying; “If you’re willing Lord let me gain wisdom, discernment and knowledge on these chapters of my life.” My greatest testimonies is God always responded to me.
Watch as God answers your every prayer
My first unkind encounter with situation X, God showed me that sometimes humans take lies as the truth and the truth as lies. This is why you need Yahweh governance over your life. When you work from God and not man, God will make every crooked road straight. Every door that human authority shuts, God will open with His Mighty Righteous Right hand. Lastly God is not man that He should lie or show favoritism.
This is how Christians find strength and joy. In these moments, I was able to laugh in the presence of bullies, the corrupt and the unkind. I was able to hold my position; not by my own tenacity, but by the power of the All God Almighty. He became the God of no borders because He reached out with his Holy power and crushed situations that were far from my reach.
Will you choose God to show you Godly joy & peace?
He became the duel Jehovah Nissi; able to restore me emotionally and spiritually while fighting with His righteous right hand. As a child of God joy is yours. And when you tell yourself like in Collossians that El Shaddai Holds all the power here on earth and in heaven, then there’s nothing anyone can do to take you down. There’s no powerful person, or man-made object that take away your joys and peace.
I’d ove to leave you with these bibke verses that I prayed in my times of need. However, the most important thing you must know; it’s okay to ask God whether a certain person or activity is for you. That’s because your joy might be stolen by something you weren’t suppose to be doing in the first place! For those reasons always ask God for His wisdom and His discernment.
God is so loving as both your King and Saviour and a Father to give to you when you ask according to His will, so always ask about any plans, activities or people you meet. Enjoy these bibke verses and refresh your everlasting joy.
Bible Verses on Holy Joy
The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.
Psalms 19:8 NIV
Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, “The Lord reigns!” Let the sea resound, and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them! Let the trees of the forest sing, let them sing for joy before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. Cry out, “Save us, God our Savior; gather us and deliver us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name, and glory in your praise.” Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the Lord.”
1 Chronicles 16:31-36 NIV
Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.
Psalms 119:111 NIV
Bring joy to your servant, Lord, for I put my trust in you.
Psalms 86:4 NIV
On the first day you are to take branches from luxuriant trees—from palms, willows and other leafy trees—and rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days. Celebrate this as a festival to the Lord for seven days each year. This is to be a lasting ordinance for the generations to come; celebrate it in the seventh month.
Leviticus 23:40-41 NIV
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23 NIV
There, in the presence of the Lord your God, you and your families shall eat and shall rejoice in everything you have put your hand to, because the Lord your God has blessed you.
Deuteronomy 12:7 NIV
And there rejoice before the Lord your God—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns who have no allotment or inheritance of their own.
Deuteronomy 12:12 NIV
Instead, you are to eat them in the presence of the Lord your God at the place the Lord your God will choose—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, and the Levites from your towns—and you are to rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you put your hand to.
Deuteronomy 12:18 NIV
Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice.
Deuteronomy 14:26 NIV
And rejoice before the Lord your God at the place he will choose as a dwelling for his Name—you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, the Levites in your towns, and the foreigners, the fatherless and the widows living among you.
Deuteronomy 16:11 NIV
Then you and the Levites and the foreigners residing among you shall rejoice in all the good things the Lord your God has given to you and your household.
Deuteronomy 26:11 NIV
You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
Psalms 16:11 NIV
So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.
Matthew 28:8 NIV
Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy. And they stayed continually at the temple, praising God.
Luke 24:52-53 NIV
So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. In that day you will no longer ask me anything. Very truly I tell you, my Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.
John 16:22-23 NIV
Lord, see how my enemies persecute me! Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, that I may declare your praises in the gates of Daughter Zion, and there rejoice in your salvation.
Psalms 9:13-14 NIV
The king rejoices in your strength, Lord. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him his heart’s desire and have not withheld the request of his lips. You came to greet him with rich blessings and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.
Psalms 21:1-3 NIV
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