Over the years, this writer has been privileged to have been around people who have been blessed with a cheerful disposition. They are positive folks who always seem to be happy. Every day, they wear a perpetual smile, almost as if they were advertising toothpaste!
Then there are others, who seem to always be chronically sad. They continually complain about life and its burdens. And who among us can deny that afflictions are discouraging? However, relative to eternity, they are but for a moment.
While we understand that not everybody is blessed with a bright outlook on life, we need to remember that joy is one of the gifts Jesus promised to His followers (John 16:17-24). And we need to resist any tendency to let sadness dominate our lives.
Jesus promised His disciples on the night Judas betrayed Him, “Your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22). And remember that "joy" is the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galations 5:22).
Beloved, let’s ask the Lord to help us look beyond any sorrowful circumstances that we may incur, and encourage our hearts through faith, the vision of joy that awaits us in heaven (Romans 10:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 5:9-14; cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
Then there are others, who seem to always be chronically sad. They continually complain about life and its burdens. And who among us can deny that afflictions are discouraging? However, relative to eternity, they are but for a moment.
While we understand that not everybody is blessed with a bright outlook on life, we need to remember that joy is one of the gifts Jesus promised to His followers (John 16:17-24). And we need to resist any tendency to let sadness dominate our lives.
Jesus promised His disciples on the night Judas betrayed Him, “Your joy no one will take from you” (John 16:22). And remember that "joy" is the fruit of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Galations 5:22).
Beloved, let’s ask the Lord to help us look beyond any sorrowful circumstances that we may incur, and encourage our hearts through faith, the vision of joy that awaits us in heaven (Romans 10:17; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Revelation 5:9-14; cf. 1 Peter 1:3-4).
—Mike Riley, Gospel Snippets
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