All Joy

The Joy of the Lord is our strength.

James 1: 2&3
2. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3. Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

What do our struggles have to do with our ministry? And yes, we are all ministers, if we are in Christ Jesus and He is in us. We all have a calling, we all have a work and a testimony.  As a called “Preacher” the time behind the pulpit is only a fraction of that calling, and in most other aspects, we all pretty much have the same job. Affecting people, for the good or the bad, hopefully for good.  Winning Souls is a high calling that we all have and should diligently pray for and practice.
If you want a lesson in soul winning, go hang out with a missionary.
If you want to develop a burden for lost souls, make friends with missionaries.

The good parts, the uplifting aspects of our Christian walk are easy to explain. We want to talk about the victories and triumphs. But what about the hard days?  What of our trials, what of our suffering, what of tribulations on this earth? We don’t like talking about those.  Why do Christians or anyone suffer?

All things work together for good, to them that love Him and are called according to his purpose. The Word also declares that we are made overcomers by the Blood of the Lamb and the Word of our testimony.

We don’t suffer for God’s pleasure. He’s not a twisted, maniacal puppet master inflicting pain for His own good time.  He is a loving and caring Father. He wants us to have Joy and Peace, but we are also living testimonies. Walking, talking, living, dying examples of His Word to a world that will either be saved or judged by our lives, actions, and examples or our lack thereof.  Our actions and reactions will be witnessed by and will be a witness to our circle of influence.
We must be good stewards of all our gifts and all our trials, of all our joy and all of our pain.

One example of this is, after being beaten and told to stop preaching “Jesus” Acts 5:41 says of the apostles, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.”  They rejoiced! They were not bitter; they didn’t say God has forsaken us, they didn’t shake their fists toward heaven. They understood that God had chosen the foolish things to confound and that their suffering would bring revival if they let God use it to His glory.

I’ll be the first to admit that even though I know that Jesus is the answer, I don’t always understand all the questions, all the why’s and how’s.  But I know that God’s ways are far above mine, and I have to trust in Him.  Our Trials and suffering have a purpose.  Recently, after going through a valley, trusted Brother in Christ recently told me that everything I have faced, everything I have gone through in my life was preparing me for now. I don’t know what tomorrow may hold, but I do know Who holds tomorrow, and I know that He has given me to tools to do whatever job he has placed before me.

Have you ever thought that the greatest gift ever offered to mankind was purchased with God’s great suffering?  The way Jesus lived, as well as how He died was all on purpose. Jesus suffered and died on a cross, first and foremost for our sins, that we may have this glorious salvation, but every aspect of his suffering was for a reason.
Isaiah 53:5 But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.
Every step he took, every bruise, every tear, every rejection was for a reason and for the benefit of Mankind.
Likewise, every pain, every slight, every wrong, every victory, every triumph, every mountaintop, every valley of ours is for a reason.  Trust in the Lord; He knows what He is doing.  Be a good steward of your victories and your failures. God has given them to you for a purpose, let Him use them to His Glory. Not understanding a thing does not make it of no importance. Trust in Him, and rejoice that you are His!

I recently read that you cannot lead anyone to a place you’ve never been.  Perhaps, the reverse is also true, that it’s easier to lead people out of a place that you have been to as well.  Maybe your suffering can help show someone that they can overcome as well. That Jesus really does love them and will provide for them even in the valley.  

Finally, Nehemiah 8:10 says “the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Like most people, I’ve always looked at this as the Joy “from” the Lord is my strength. When He gives me Joy, I am strengthened.  What if it’s really the Lord’s Joy is my strength. The Joy that the Lord derives from my obedience and faithfulness causes him to reward me with an outpouring of strength.  Either way, my strength comes from Him. Almost every day I tell the Lord that I want Him to smile when He thinks of me. Regardless of how I get strength, I want to be pleasing to God and a faithful witness before all mankind.

Author: Greg Fee

I'm a Husband, Father, Pawpaw and Pastor. I love spending time with my grand-buddies. A minister since 1988, I have been blessed to work in several churches around the U.S and currently am blessed to pastor an Awesome Church. I've also had the pleasure of ministering in faraway places while traveling for work. Some of my greatest honors have been the relationships I gained with several of the modern-day Heros of the Faith, the ministering families all around the world. Several years ago I started working with leather as a means to fight boredom while working in remote areas. It swiftly became a passion that I want to share as well. My plan is to keep spreading God's Love through the written and preached word, through walking the walk, and to keep making cool stuff along the way. Check that out at whisper_n_jack on Instagram View all posts by Greg Fee