This month our theme has been joy. We’ve posted verses about joy and asked you to pray a spirit of joy for our year at WCRC. To conclude our joy series, let’s discuss how to have joy in difficult circumstances. Scripture makes it clear that we are required to have joy in all circumstances, but sometimes that can be challenging. Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t call us to have joy on our own. He calls us to have joy by finding refuge in Him.
Psalms 5:11 says:
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”
Here David seeks the presence of the Lord to learn the way of righteousness and to seek shelter from his enemies. Through this, his joy is restored and he responds in praise to the Lord.
Another passage, Psalm 27:5-6 echoes this theme:
“For he will hide me in his shelter
in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
he will lift me high upon a rock.
And now my head shall be lifted up
above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord.”
Here David proclaims the faithfulness of the Lord by saying that when trouble comes, the Lord will cover him and be his shelter. Again, David’s proper response is to enter the tent of the Lord and praise him joyfully for His deliverance.
David serves as a model for how we should have joy. First, we should seek the presence of the Lord and his righteousness before all things. Second, we should count on the faithfulness of the Lord and have joy even when our circumstances seem impossible. Third, our joyfulness is not for ourselves, but should be turned back to God in praise.
Dig Deeper:
Read Psalms 5 and 27 in their entirety. Both contain many statements and pleas to the Lord, such as “teach me,” “lead me,” “hear me.” Highlight each of these direct statements to the Lord and reflect on them.
What has your prayer life looked like recently?
How can reflecting on the prayers of David inform the way you speak to the Lord?
