How can they co exist? Sorrow and joy?
Can you fake Joy when in deep sorrow? Pretend things are “fine” when your world is falling apart? Sure, you can. You can smile and give an outward appearance that everything is “good…, fine,” when it’s not! But that’s not joy.
True joy is a gift of God “the fruit of the Spirit”- the results of His presence and control over the believers life is JOY! -{Galatians 5:22}. And He gives us the ability to rejoice. “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”-{Romans 14:17.}. ” May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”-{Romans 15:13}. And we see Paul writing from prison to the Philippians “Whatever happens, my dear brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. I never get tired of telling you these things, and I do it to safeguard your faith.”-{Philippians 3:1}.
Joy is a gift from God to those “In Christ” and He commands them to keep on rejoicing in the LORD because He has given the the ability to delight in Him. Focus on Him.
Faith is not blind when Jesus Christ is your focus and His Word your foundation.
We live by faith in a Person whose Word and promises are true, and we often learn of the reality and trustworthy of those promises experientially when we are in a tight place, a hard place, difficulties. We can rejoice IN THE LORD! Paul was sorrowful over the lostness of souls, the rejection of the Gospel, Paul’s sorrow is expressed in Romans 9:1-2, “I am telling the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience testifies with me [enlightened and prompted] by the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. For [if it were possible] I would wish that I myself were accursed, [separated, banished] from Christ for the sake [of the salvation] of my brothers, my natural kinsmen,”-{Amplified Bible}.
His sorrow over those opposed to Christ and lost in sin was a great sorrow to Him and also disobedience, spiritual immaturity of believers, the false teachers and their treacherous teaching trying to influence the believers, and yet “always rejoicing,” in the LORD Himself, in the souls He has saved, and ultimately His Sovereignty over all, His ability to do as He pleases, to change hearts, exalt His Name, fulfil His purposes and plans and His decreed will- that which He has purposed cannot be twarted. The New Living Translation puts it this way, “Our hearts ache, but we always have joy.” This is what God can do. He can impart joy to the sorrowing person. And this He does to those who are “in Christ” Those who are in a right relationship with God through turning to Him, submitting to Him, embracing the Person and work of Jesus Christ on the cross for them and satisfying God’s demands! And He gifts them the Holy Spirit who produces joy in a heart! Amazing Grace.
Note the LORD did not save, keep Paul from sorrow, deep emotional pain, but in it He gives him a resevoir as it was of Joy and the ability to keep on rejoicing– and that in the consciosness of God’s grace, favor towards him, based on the work of His Son!
To a person without Christ, they can see and understand that a person should delight in having wealth, good health, it makes “sense,” why wouldn’t a person be happy they would reason. But to see a person without health, wealth, in distressing circumstances have peace and joy, does not make sense to them but it speaks to them!
It is often in the greatest difficulties a follower of Christ goes through where God testifies as He did with the three Hebrew youth in the fire of Another– to the king of Himself!
Both verbs “sorrowful,” and “rejoicing” are present tense, continual actions, a lifestyle. The intense emotional pain over the lost souls and the deep gladness, delight in the LORD, who He is, His power, His grace, mercy, love and ability to rescue the foulest soul which we all are- from under the control of satan into the safety of His family through the merits of the LORD Jesus!
Rejoicing in the conscious grace of God who was able to do exceeding abundant in the lives of all. Paul’s joy was not twarted by his circumstances for his delight was in a Person- the LORD and His ability to save.
Sorrowful. Yes. Rejoicing for rejoicing sake? No. Rejoicing for distressing circumstances? No. Rejoicing in the LORD? YES! For Who He is, His Word, promises, will revealed.
For IN Him and FROM Him comes true JOY that sustains and delights, satisfies the soul amidst the deep sorrows of life! It is a deep deep well that brings forth “The JOY of the LORD strengthens us.”-(Nehemiah 6:10).
You may be suffering over the lost spiritual condition over a loved one. Sorrowful. And yet “…always rejoicing,” in the LORD Jesus and also because you know based on His Word that He is able to rescue them and give them eternal life, a new heart to love and Honor Him. You may be sorrowful over the false teaching that is so prominent today that seeks to deceive God’s people with corrupt teaching, you may be sorrowful over disobedient believers or spiritual immaturity when they should be pushing on in their growth in faith but yet as painful as your sorrow is there is a joy, that comes from the Holy Spirit in you that causes you to rise above it and delight and your joy, gladness and satisfaction of heart and be able to continually rejoice …in the LORD! “…always Rejoicing.”
God Bless,
Aidan.