Love and Joy That EnduresSample

Joy, Faith, and Hope

Choosing joy can sometimes seem elusive, even when we know that Jesus is our Lord and that the Bible provides answers to our struggles. The missing piece of the puzzle often boils down to faith. It’s not enough to merely know God’s Word; we must believe it with unwavering trust.

As we station our joy in God, faith becomes our cornerstone. Romans 15:13 reminds us that God fills us with joy and peace “in believing.” The power of the Holy Spirit works in us as we believe the truths found in God’s Word. Joy is not found in doubting God’s promises but in acknowledging and acting on the trustworthiness of God.

We also choose joy by rejoicing in hope. Hope takes us beyond mere belief; it propels us into a future that we consider certain because of God’s promises. Hope, in its essence, is our unwavering confidence in the outcome God has foretold. It is future-oriented, rooted in what God has said about the days ahead.

Hope acknowledges that our current circumstances are temporary, but what awaits us is eternal. Pleasures forevermore, the presence of our Savior, and a renewed earth devoid of suffering are all part of the hope we hold dear. Our joy is sustained by this hope, enabling us to face the challenges of today with an unshakable confidence in tomorrow.

A life of love, lived zealously for God, finds its enduring joy in the prospect of everything God has promised. It serves God steadfastly because its joy is rooted in hope. The choice is clear: the fleeting pleasures of sin or the everlasting joy of obedience to God’s will.

So, what are you choosing? Are you striving to put on a facade of joy, or are you genuinely choosing it? True joy is discovered when we believe God’s promises and place our greatest joy in the One who is truly worthy of it—God Himself. Anything else is a form of idolatry.

Will you trust God today for everything He has promised—both for today and tomorrow? When you do, you’ll find that He is faithful and that His promises are trustworthy. Regardless of life’s trials, your joy can remain unshaken as long as it is rightly stationed in the Lord.

Even when your heart breaks, when confusion reigns, when your body aches, or when you face the grave, there can be a joy in the Lord that surpasses all circumstances. It’s a joy anchored in faith and sustained by hope—a joy that stands firm through life’s storms.

Let us choose joy by believing in God and living in the certainty of His promises. May we anchor our joy in the One who is forever faithful and worthy of our trust.

This devotional was based on a sermon by Richard Caldwell. To listen to a sermon and an episode of the Straight Truth Podcast related to this message, visit our website https://straighttruth.net/biblical-family-planning/