How to keep your peace and joy

‘May…God…fill you with all joy and peace in believing.’ - Romans 15:13 AMPC

The Lord has promised us a sense of joy in the midst of every circumstance we face. Jesus said, 'I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete' (John 15:11 NIV). So how can you hold on to your joy and not lose it? The apostle Paul tells us, 'May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope' (Romans 15:13 AMPC). Notice that all-important word ‘believing’. It’s okay to have questions, but you must never doubt God’s love and faithfulness towards you. One Bible teacher writes: ‘I remember an evening when I was feeling strongly dissatisfied and discontented. I had no peace or joy and was absolutely miserable. I read Romans chapter 15:13, and it was indeed 'a word in season' for me. My problem was simple: I was doubting instead of believing. I was doubting God’s unconditional love for me, doubting that I could hear from Him, doubting His call on my life, doubting that He was pleased with me. I was filled with doubt…doubt…doubt. When I saw the problem and got back into faith and out of doubt…my joy and peace returned immediately. I’ve found the same thing to be true again and again in my life. When my joy and peace seem to be gone, I check my believing—usually it is gone also.' And the same principle applies to you today!

Prayer Point: Father, I thank You that You can bring something good out of a bad situation. Even when I can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel, help me to experience joy in all circumstances and to replace my doubts with Your love and peace. Thank You, Lord. Amen.

Acknowledgements: Meyer, Joyce, Enjoying Where You Are on the Way to Where You Are Going: Learning How to Live a Joyful Spirit-Led Life (New York: FaithWords, 2002).