Psalm 34:5 “Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with Joy.”
It’s pretty easy to see radiance on the face of someone who has just received good news. It’s like they have been whitewashed with pure joy. Recently the beams of light were unmistakable as a friend she almost sang the words, “God said yes!”
Do you use any euphemisms to describe acts of prayer? In our family we talk about “dragging out our prayer rugs” and sometimes we don’t roll them up for weeks. We ‘PUSH’ Pray Until Something Happens until we are road weary from effort. Then when God is ready to answer, sometimes He says yes! Remember my friend, full of joy because God said yes? There’s more to the story. We had been praying for a yes answer for more than a year. God said yes.
But what about when God says no? Do we then react in anger or try to bargain with God or full out argue? Or do we accept His sovereign choice for us and use this situation to strengthen our faith? If we love God and genuinely seek his will, we will rise above this circumstance and focus on what can be learned from it. Last night I watched the movie Soul Surfer. I know. I know. Old movie – but I had never seen it. As I agonized with Bethany Hamilton and her parents over the tragic loss of Bethany’s arm I saw in them iron clad trust in their faithful God.I know there was more of the story than could be revealed in a 2-hour movie, but I was barely breathing in some of the scenes where it was obvious that only faith could turn tragedy to triumph. I’m sure family and friend prayed relentlessly through months of recovery. In those times, I wonder how they handled the silence of God?
When silence is all we hear, then what? It’s so hard to accept the opposite of what we want. It’s difficult to wait when the complications of life present challenges and there is no discernable answer. We wait and question and seek direction. Waiting – it’s like driving down a crowded street, seeing emergency vehicles behind and hearing the scream of sirens all around with no clear direction of where to go. Go straight? Turn left …or maybe right? Argh! You can’t just stop. Sound familiar? The joy in this experience is to finally find a way out and know that we at least on the right path and in the right zone.
When God is silent, while we wait, remember these words in Psalm 62:11-12 “One thing God has spoken, two things I have heard: “Power belongs to you, God, and with you, Lord, is unfailing love.” Maybe you’re living through a period of silence right now. Maybe you read, as I have read scripture like, Psalm 119:105 and asked God to aim the light a little better on that path he wants you to follow. I’ve reminded him that his word is the light on my path – the path I’m trying to follow and he says, “That’s good. The path is there, read a little more of my word, and keep the light shining. I have not forgotten you.”
This would be a good time to remember how people in David’s day reacted to God. Psalm 44:17-18 : “All this has happened though we have not forgotten you. Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path”. We experience joy when our hearts have not turned from God when trials come; instead we strengthen our faith and keep trusting even though we may be tempted to ditch God and run.
Can we have joy and peace whether God says yes, no, or wait? It’s a choice and one that requires unshakable faith. Isaiah 55:12 says ” Indeed you will go out with joy; you will be led along in peace. The mountains and hills will burst into song, and the trees of the field will clap their hands!”
I’m not expecting to hear mountains and hills sing, but I expect to be guided by the God who is love and who is light as I choose JOY in my circumstances. We have to look for the joy because it won’t come find us.
Dear Jane, I thank God for my prayer requests that were not answered. I discovered in (my) time that His “yes” or “no” fulfilled His perfect plan for me. Romans 8:28 causes me to reflect on His infinite wisdom and love for me. My “joy” is resounding!
Danny, that is oh so true. I have spent many repentive moments telling God I was so wrong to insist on something and dear God thank you that you didn’t give it to me. 🙂
Jane, your article touches on so many points of reality in one’s faith and their walk with God, those that look for answers when things go wrong, those who see their life half full, verse half empty. Joy, as well as Happiness, will not come looking for us;you are so right. We must look for the things that bring smiles to our face, comfort to our soul and peace to our minds. I have always been convinced that someone else has had a tougher life than myself, so I continue to look at the blessings rather than the sorrows, and pray each day in thanksgiving. Thank you for your “Reflections”.
That’s a great way to keep things in perspective. “someone else has had a tougher life than myself” I know for sure that’s true. I believe we have to mind our moments because they become our memories. That makes me look for the joy too.