Why do I assume that tomorrow will bring more suffering?
Even if it did, why would I assume that I couldn’t possess any joy?
Maybe I need to simply ask God for His Spirit’s promised fruit of joy, to release my imagined assumptions.
Who am I to predict what tomorrow will bring?
Perhaps my release into joy could be found wholly in His gift of salvation as He again helps me remember His gospel promises, drawing from permanent wells!
With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation (Is. 12:3, emphasis added).
Joy in the God of my salvation
I remember that first day of joy! Gospel promises became those I simply “took” and received as God’s gift of grace to me! He gave me a “new birth” day! He opened my eyes, turned me away from the power of Satan and darkness, brought me to Himself and His light, forgave my sins, and gave me a place in His kingdom by faith in Christ (Acts 26:18).
Jesus Himself reminds me!
When I dread tomorrow’s possible suffering, God’s gift of joy stirs when I remember His redeeming love for me, in doing all of this in and for me.
Christ is my peace; he died for me,
for me he shed his blood;
and as my wondrous sacrifice,
offered himself to God.
(“I’ve Found the Pearl of Greatest Price!” by J. Mason, 1683)
Joy in my union with Jesus Christ, today and tomorrow
So, maybe my joy can come alongside my sorrows and fears as I rest in my union with Jesus today, His joy in me! Joy in Scripture often means “calmly delighting.” So today, instead of peering into my made-up and imagined day of gloom, maybe I can focus on my promised reunion with Jesus, one glorious and joy-full day (Jude 1:24).
Who knows?
Maybe tomorrow will be that day…because He returns!
I’m just imagining a “suffering tomorrow,” producing dread!
Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit (Ps. 51:12 ESV).
Through Him, I can rejoice! I’m in union with my beloved Jesus today…and forever! Our Father has already given me the gift of “reconciliation” with Himself (Rom. 5:11). Could this preciously promised gift of His calm delight carry me through any suffering, regardless of my many swirling emotions?
Christ Jesus is my all in all,
my comfort and my love;
my life below,
and he shall be my joy and crown above.
Help me release into joy when I dread tomorrow’s suffering
Oh, glorious and mighty God, please strengthen me to endure today’s suffering with Your joy (Col. 1:11 ESV).
I want this joyful heart, Your good medicine of a healed spirit, Your blessing regardless of crushing circumstances!
Help me to look to Your gift of a joy-full tomorrow, replacing dread. For, whether on earth or in my eternal rest…
I will be…
with Jesus.
For he indeed is Lord of lords,
and he the King of kings;
he is the Sun of Righteousness,
with healing in his wings.
God of hope, by Your Spirit’s power, fill me with joy that comes from believing the gospel once again today (Rom. 15:13). For this is all Your promised work in my heart. It relies entirely on You, so I look to You for the fulfillment of Your promise, each moment.
Help me to release into the same joy Jesus had…and promises to me
Jesus, it was “for the joy that was set before” You that You endured all the suffering of the cross, the suffering I deserved (Heb. 12:2 ESV). My being saved was Your joy as You suffered.
You looked ahead, toward me.
So today? I look ahead…toward You.
My own calm delight comes from trusting Your Word’s promises for today and tomorrow, fulfilled in Your perfect will and according to Your unchanging character. So, as You promised Your disciples, help me to keep going, released into Your beautifully planned today (and tomorrow) with Your calm delight:
You have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you (Jn. 16:22 ESV).
Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full (Jn. 16:24 ESV).
Christ is my Prophet, Priest, and King;
My Prophet full of light,
my great High Priest before the throne,
my King of heav’nly might.
Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen (Eph. 3:20-21 ESV, emphasis added).
Material adapted from Praying God’s Promises Into Suffering: A Devotional Bible Study Prayer Journal, Lauri A. Hogle, © 2023
A PLAYLIST TO HELP US RELEASE INTO JOY!
Sister in Christ, I know you’re suffering today…so am I. When suffering is chronic, it’s easy to imagine and dread a joy-less future. But, by His indwelling Spirit, we have His fruit…and joy is included.
I’ve found the pearl of greatest price!
My heart doth sing for joy;
and sing I must, for Christ is mine!
Christ shall my song employ.
Research echoes God’s Word! Both tell us that singing to the Lord helps the body, mind, emotions, and spirit! A joyful heart is good medicine! Sing I must! ❤️🎶✝️
So, this week’s playlist gift is to help me and you pray-sing, to release dreaded future moments into His blessing of joy. I’m praying that it will not only help us worship our Lord but also to receive or “take” His “calm delight” once again—to release into joy in our brokenness.
If this might bless you, sign up below, and it will come to your email as a sister who is also asking Him for help to “sing for joy.” Or perhaps other resources below will be helpful?
To hear Scripture devotional with calming hymn playing, click here for YouTube podcast.
For Christian women with chronic illness and pain, a music therapy-inspired podcast to help with symptoms
Devotional Bible study prayer journals, available on Amazon. Click for details.
Near to God: A Devotional Bible Study of God’s Character in Our Suffering
