Paul has just listed some of what the followers of Christ had experienced, “We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors. We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed…”-{2 Cor 6:6-9} and goes on in verse 10 and speaks of “sorrowful,” The Greek word describes it as to experience deep emotional pain, severe sorrow, grief, very intense, emotional and was even used to describe the pain in childbirth and yet he speaks of “…always rejoicing.” and goes on to say, “We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.”{-{ 2 Cor 6:11 nlt}. They were spending their lives on other amidst their suffering! And in this they could rejoice! The opportunity for Christ sake to serve others. They owned nothing but all they needed they had – the riches in Christ as Paul speaks of in Ephesians 3:8. Paul in 2 Cor 6:10-11 deals with suffering, service and satisfaction in Christ! But it is this issue of “suffering” that I wish to share on…

In such passages as Romans 5:3-5 we see that IN sorrow is the possibility to rejoice because of what is confidently revealed to the believer and they can confidently “be assured” that in the face of suffering, great distress, and pain, they have reasons to “exult, rejoice because of what they know God is “producing “-{Please read Romans 5:3-5}

  • And we see that JOY is possible IN OUR Sufferings. The Scripture teaches both. At times Joy follows sorrow,- {Read The Day befores devotional; Read Psalm 30:5; 125:5} at other times we can experience JOY in our sorrows at the same time!

The LORD told Paul when he had asked for his painful “thorn” to be removed, “My GRACE is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” And Paul’s response was to delight in weakness knowing that his weakness made him a candidate for the LORD’S power to be unleashed in him. His weakness in exchange for the LORD’S strength! And in His grace made known to and in him, he found reason to delight! -{Read 2 Cor 12:9-10}. God’s provision FOR him gave him reason to delight in His grace TO him!

  • It is not rejoicing for rejoicing’s sake. There has to be a reason to rejoice. Where do we find this joy in the midst of deep, deep pain? And for the follower of our LORD, it is Himself. His grace towards us causes us to lean into Him and find in Him reasons to delight, to be glad, and even this ability to rejoice is all of Him! He gives us the Holy Spirit and as we submit to Him, submit to His Word “the fruit” He produces is Joy -{Read Galatians 5:22}

The Sorrows are real and undeniable, but they do not define us, though God is working all things together for good, and can use them to shape our character, to draw us into deeper dependence upon Him-{Read 2 Cor 1:9}. And also equips us for greater and deeper ministry for the benefit of coming alongside others to comfort them with the comfort which God has comforted us. And this He does.

  • For in our sorrows we see Him meet us with Himself and so we rejoice, delight in His companionship in the furnace of difficulties, knowing He understands when we cannot verbalize, or when it seems others do not understand. We know He, The Man of sorrows, acquainted with Grief, does, and we find comfort in that, we find comfort in Him who imparts comfort to us and we delight, and rejoice in Him, and at times it is through tears and in the midst of heartbreak! For He bottles up our tears, He is near the brokenhearted, and He heals the broken-hearted binding up our wounds. What a Friend we have in Jesus, all our griefs and sins to bear…

IT’S NOT “NATURAL” BUT “SUPERNATURAL!”

So, we see in Scripture, two groups as it were, one being Sorrow first then followed in order by Joy as an experience, then the second group of JOY IN the suffering! God gives Joy in the midst of the suffering! It seems impossible, Yet, the fact today you are a follower of Christ also seems impossible. Indeed it is apart from the new birth which GOD Caused, brought about in your life.-{Read 1 Peter 1:3}. Both are a work of GOD! The fact you have been “born again” is a work of God. The fact you can rejoice in your sorrow is an act of God. Both TESTIFY OF Him and both Testify TO Him. This is an act of God! A Testimony to a lost community , or people around you, for it seems and is so un-natural, and it is, for it is “SUPERNATURAL”- As salvation is a “gift”-{Eph 2:8-9} so too is JOY in the midst of sorrow! Glory to God!

Yes, today you may be sorrowful, but in your heart of hearts, Rejoicing, delighting, being glad in the FAVOR, GRACE of our LORD For…

  • His PRESENCE WITH you.
  • His PROMISES FOR you.
  • His PERSPECTIVE REVEALED TO You.- Through His Word
  • His POWER For you- By His Spirit To enable you and me to Rejoice in the LORD
  • His ASSURING LOVE For you!
  • His PRE-EMIENCE over all – Working it all out for good to those who love God and are called.”-{Romans 8:28} And He knows that you love Him who first loved you!-{Read 1 John 4:19}

You are not alone, He is with you, for you, loves you, and will work it all together for good. We may not see how, but by faith in His Character, He will!

Your story does not end with suffering or sin, but with Him, one day in His presence, and there you will experience the fullness of Joy!-{Read Psalm 16:11}.

  • You can Rejoice in the LORD for your FUTURE IS BRIGHT- YOUR FUTURE IS CHRIST!

God bless, He has and He will!

Aidan.