Real joy comes from God - Philippians 4:4-7
Truth is everyone is going through something. We are living in difficult times. If it is not our battle with sin as Christians, it is work stress, unemployment, studies, family issues and the economy. The list is endless. The point is, we are all having it hard and rejoicing becomes a challenge.
In verse 4 of chapter 4, Paul is encouraging or rather commanding them to rejoice. There were disagreements going on in the church. Paul encourages them that they should rejoice nevertheless. So should we. Nothing may be going okay right now, but rejoicing in all the Lord is to us and that he is for us will tend to correct our perspective on everything else. It pushes our focus to the right direction. It will help us see where true joy comes from. Real joy comes from having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
A joyless life leads to anxiety. Paul gives another command again in verse 6, he says “Do not be anxious about anything”. Although it may be strange to think of it this way, to be anxious is to be disobedient to God. It is the failure to believe the promises of God in His word. I know this is true because I myself battle with anxiety almost daily myself and I have noticed it’s patterns. On days when I look more to myself or trust my own strengths more, that is when it usually hikes. It is more like a reminder that “Hey, you have been trusting on yourself more lately”. To be honest I do not know how to stop being anxious but verses 6-7 show us a primary cure for anxiety. Prayer is the cure for anxiety. In this context, these prayers address whatever is causing the anxiety and stealing our joy and peace of mind. He says we should be anxious about nothing but praying about everything. “Everything carries the idea of every troubling situation that threatens the peace of God in us. And there is peace that comes with trusting God, Paul says it surpasses all understanding and this peace guides your heart and mind in Christ Jesus
At this point it is worth pausing and thinking about what has been weighing you down? What makes it hard for you enjoy God? Have you told God about it? No matter how silly you think it is, if it robs you of peace, confess it to Him today! Have confidence that after praying, the peace that is promised in verse 7 will guard your heart and mind. Pray and trust God, your joy will grow.
