“We cannot wait until things are good in our lives to be happy.” I heard these words from a young singer performing on America’s Got Talent. She shared that she was diagnosed with cancer with a 2% survival rate. Despite her difficult circumstances, she made it clear that she is choosing joy and living life to the fullest. As I learned more about this young singer, I learned that at the root of this joy is her faith in Christ. After all, one of the characteristics of faithfulness is choosing joy despite the circumstances we are facing.
No person enjoys hard seasons. No one hopes for bad news from the doctor, the phone call in the middle of the night, or the financial hardship to come. The truth is that these seasons can be incredibly fruitful and growing. The writer of Hebrews put it this way: "No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it's painful! But afterward, there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way (Hebrews 12:11). Discipline, which is described in A Greek Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature as “the act of providing guidance for responsible living, upbringing, training, [or] instruction,” is painful. It is especially painful when this discipline comes through painful circumstances. While it is painful, it makes way for fruitfulness which yields joy.
We get to choose whether we will let our circumstances eclipse us, or if we will hold on to joy despite our circumstances. Whatever you are facing today, you can hold on to joy and hope, believing in the growth and fruitfulness it will produce in you. Remember, “we cannot wait until life is good to be happy.” We can find joy in Christ today through the process of growing.
Take some time to be joyful today. Set aside 5 minutes, or longer if you have the time, to be joyful. Sing a praise song loudly, play a silly game with your children, or do something else that brings you joy. Thank God for moments of joy, even when life is difficult.
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.
And have you forgotten the encouraging words God spoke to you as his children? He said,
“My child, don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and don’t give up when he corrects you.
For the Lord disciplines those he loves,
and he punishes each one he accepts as his child.”
As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Who ever heard of a child who is never disciplined by its father? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children at all. Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?
For our earthly fathers disciplined us for a few years, doing the best they knew how. But God’s discipline is always good for us, so that we might share in his holiness. No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong.
