Finding True Joy in Christ Amidst Life's Trials
Devotional
Sermon Summary
Sermon Clips
"I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Now, that sounds like a doozy, right? The secret of being content in all circumstances, that's a secret worth knowing. Because surprise? I don't like being in unfavorable and uncomfortable circumstances." [00:34:51] (24 seconds)
"And who doesn't want to be happy, right? I mean, it's part of the DNA of our nation. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." [00:37:10] (20 seconds)
"So if happiness were truly a state of well-being, and joy an emotion evoked by well-being, that means that Webster's would have us believe the state of happiness leads to the emotion of joy. And that would also mean that without happiness, joy is impossible. Now, far be it for me to disagree with the dictionary, but I don't think that's how joy works." [00:42:39] (26 seconds)
"See, happiness is entirely circumstantial. When the vines are bursting with grapes and the stalls are fat with cattle, when everything in my life aligns just the way I want it to, well, happiness naturally follows. But what happens when there's not a single grape on the vine? When the stalls are empty? When a drought wipes out the whole harvest?" [00:43:58] (24 seconds)
"But the one who created the world, he tells us when happiness is impossible, joy is still available. In fact, joy is always available. Vines full of grapes are barren. A promotion or a pink slip? Good news from the doctor or bad? Ultimately, the source of our happiness ends up being us." [00:44:42] (28 seconds)
"Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. And this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Now, most of us have probably read this or heard this story countless times, but let's pause for some context for a second." [00:46:24] (21 seconds)
"And so after issuing a warning at the end of the book of Malachi, God went silent. For 400 years, no more promises, no more prophecies, four centuries of silence. And then to a group of shepherds on a holy night in the middle of a field, he spoke again. In a story that's so familiar, we can lose sight of the fact that the Jewish people had waited through 400 years of silence for this precise moment." [00:48:02] (36 seconds)
"Most of us here would say that we trust in Jesus for our salvation. Without question, that is something to rejoice in. It's the good news or the gospel that the angel announced. In Luke 10, the disciples are so excited about the ministry they had accomplished in Jesus' name. And yet Jesus tells them, Instead of rejoicing in your achievements, rejoice in the fact that your names are written in heaven." [00:52:29] (27 seconds)
"Do you look at the circumstances of your life, the pain, the brokenness, loss? Loneliness, betrayal, misfortune, struggling to keep your head above water, and wonder, how on earth could I possibly rejoice over this? But that's just it. We don't rejoice because of our circumstances. We rejoice no matter the circumstances." [00:53:08] (24 seconds)
"Norma's life flowed from a deep intimacy with Jesus. An intimacy that was only possible because her paramount priority each day was to rest in the presence of the one who loved her so much that he came to a dark manger and later died on a bloody hill all so she could be where she is right now. Rejoicing for eternity in the presence of the Messiah." [00:58:25] (26 seconds)
"Sometimes God changes our unfavorable circumstances and sometimes he doesn't. But he never expects us to ignore what's happening, to dismiss the disappointment, the frustration, the fear, or the sorrow that we may be feeling. Instead, he invites us to see the true light shining into even our darkest circumstances, just like it did that night in that dark, cramped, and smelly manger." [01:01:26] (30 seconds)
"Because ultimately, we don't trust God enough to let him go. But there's a better way. It's the way of surrender. In John 16, 33, Jesus says, in this world, you will have trouble, but take heart. The King James Version says, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. That's an assurance we can rest in this morning in every moment of our lives, even the hard ones. Especially the hard ones." [01:04:10] (33 seconds)
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"And who doesn't want to be happy, right? I mean, it's part of the DNA of our nation. We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness." [00:37:10] (20 seconds)
"So if happiness were truly a state of well-being, and joy an emotion evoked by well-being, that means that Webster's would have us believe the state of happiness leads to the emotion of joy. And that would also mean that without happiness, joy is impossible. Now, far be it for me to disagree with the dictionary, but I don't think that's how joy works." [00:42:39] (26 seconds)
"See, happiness is entirely circumstantial. When the vines are bursting with grapes and the stalls are fat with cattle, when everything in my life aligns just the way I want it to, well, happiness naturally follows. But what happens when there's not a single grape on the vine? When the stalls are empty? When a drought wipes out the whole harvest?" [00:43:58] (24 seconds)
"But the one who created the world, he tells us when happiness is impossible, joy is still available. In fact, joy is always available. Vines full of grapes are barren. A promotion or a pink slip? Good news from the doctor or bad? Ultimately, the source of our happiness ends up being us." [00:44:42] (28 seconds)
"Today in the town of David, a Savior has been born to you. He is the Messiah, the Lord. And this will be a sign to you. You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. Now, most of us have probably read this or heard this story countless times, but let's pause for some context for a second." [00:46:24] (21 seconds)
"And so after issuing a warning at the end of the book of Malachi, God went silent. For 400 years, no more promises, no more prophecies, four centuries of silence. And then to a group of shepherds on a holy night in the middle of a field, he spoke again. In a story that's so familiar, we can lose sight of the fact that the Jewish people had waited through 400 years of silence for this precise moment." [00:48:02] (36 seconds)
"Most of us here would say that we trust in Jesus for our salvation. Without question, that is something to rejoice in. It's the good news or the gospel that the angel announced. In Luke 10, the disciples are so excited about the ministry they had accomplished in Jesus' name. And yet Jesus tells them, Instead of rejoicing in your achievements, rejoice in the fact that your names are written in heaven." [00:52:29] (27 seconds)
"Do you look at the circumstances of your life, the pain, the brokenness, loss? Loneliness, betrayal, misfortune, struggling to keep your head above water, and wonder, how on earth could I possibly rejoice over this? But that's just it. We don't rejoice because of our circumstances. We rejoice no matter the circumstances." [00:53:08] (24 seconds)
"Norma's life flowed from a deep intimacy with Jesus. An intimacy that was only possible because her paramount priority each day was to rest in the presence of the one who loved her so much that he came to a dark manger and later died on a bloody hill all so she could be where she is right now. Rejoicing for eternity in the presence of the Messiah." [00:58:25] (26 seconds)
"Sometimes God changes our unfavorable circumstances and sometimes he doesn't. But he never expects us to ignore what's happening, to dismiss the disappointment, the frustration, the fear, or the sorrow that we may be feeling. Instead, he invites us to see the true light shining into even our darkest circumstances, just like it did that night in that dark, cramped, and smelly manger." [01:01:26] (30 seconds)
"Because ultimately, we don't trust God enough to let him go. But there's a better way. It's the way of surrender. In John 16, 33, Jesus says, in this world, you will have trouble, but take heart. The King James Version says, be of good cheer. I have overcome the world. That's an assurance we can rest in this morning in every moment of our lives, even the hard ones. Especially the hard ones." [01:04:10] (33 seconds)
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