Where's the joy?

[Dan]

Any alcoholic will tell you that "drying out" is no fun. In a way all Christians have to go through a similar experience. We are addicted to the friendship of the world and when we choose Christ we cease to see things as the world sees them so the world ceases to "love" us as one of its own and we find the rejection hard to bear. Read John 15 so I won't have to quote it here but I will quote a hymn that you may recognize. Trust and Obey. As Paul says I do not claim to have made this testimony mine except in morsels. Pray for me that I can be the fruitful vine and not withered, pruned, and discarded.

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Refrain:
Trust and obey, for there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.

Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.

Not a burden we bear, not a sorrow we share,
But our toil He doth richly repay;
Not a grief or a loss, not a frown or a cross,
But is blessed if we trust and obey.

But we never can prove the delights of His love
Until all on the altar we lay;
For the favor He shows, for the joy He bestows,
Are for them who will trust and obey.

Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet,
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way;
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.

I went through a period of reading books by C.S. Lewisand was privileged to find Surprised by Joy which told of his search for truth and his delight in finding Jesus. We may also experience that same joy but the joy may only be as strong as our searching has been earnest. Jerimiah 29:13 NIV You will find me when you seek me with ALL YOUR HEART.

[Dan]

At retirement age I find myself sidelined but I now have time to actually read the testimonies of the Church that is on the GROWING EDGE where it is encountering the STANIC forces of Islam, Bhudhism and Hinduism. Miracles not only put the lie to dead religions and repressive governments but strengthen the faithful giving them joy in the place of fear and even I am lifted up. See www.gfa.org and www.opendoors.org.