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Are you in a season where you’re saying, “God, nothing in my life seems to work? Everything seems to fell apart, and I’m struggling to rejoice amid all this disappointment”.
I’m sure when James wrote to count all things as joy, he wasn’t talking about modern-day difficulty, disappointment and discouragement.
I mean, c’mon!
We’re dealing with massive life problems.
It is possible to be cheerful when life is crumbling?
Well the truth of the matter is that God requires that despite our situation that we still rejoice in him.
So how does one rejoice in the Lord during a season of discouragement ? Here are five ways.
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1.Meditate upon the word of God
Philippians 4:4-8 King James Version (KJV)
4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.
5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
After you’ve meditated upon the word of God sit and reflect and allow him to speak to you, and I’ll usually bring a notebook or journal and write down everything that I hear within that moment.
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2. Remind yourself of the promise(s)
God promised us that never leave nor forsake us, allow that to be your constant daily reminder that no matter what I’m dealing with, there is always another in the fire with me.
That person is Jesus!
Our King!
Yes, you may be going through a season of hardship, and you may find it hard to believe that God is still with you based upon what you see in the natural but, despite what you know and see, we serve a God that is always near.
Here are a few books that I read to help me through those seasons in my life that seemed overwhelming and disappointing
Psalms 34:18 ” The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.
So, we can rejoice in the fact that God is still with us, that we’re under His mighty wing of protection.
God has sent his comforter to help restore the joy unto our lives!
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3.Cast your disappointment at the feet of the king
Nothing robs your joy more than harboring on the frustration.
We all do it, so don’t feel as if you’re alone.
But, in 1 Peter 5:7, it says to ” Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
That means Release it!
Cast all of your disappointment, sadness, weariness, depression at His feet.
Don’t sit and harbor on how bad this season of your life is going but, yet release that disappointment unto God and take delight in Him.
When we cast it to God, we’re saying God you’re ruler overall, so I give this season of my life to you.
4. Resting In Gods Timing
In God’s perfect timing, He will make all things beautiful within your life!
Yes, it’s hard to see the cup full because all you see is a disappointment but, once we turn our eyes back to Him and rest in His word then and only then will we have the joy that James spoke about.
I went through a rough season of the disappointment of not having a car during the cold Michigan winter. If you’re from Michigan, you know how cold it gets.
It devastated me because all I saw was a crumbled life of disappointment where nothing seemed to work, but once I fixed my eyes on God and found rest in God, he changed my season of struggle into a season of rest.
Sure, I wished things would have been different, but it was through those moments that my love for God grew and I knew that something in my life is seasonal.
And hardship is not an eternal thing, and that someday the seeds will bloom, and we will see the rainbow at the end.
Psalm 5:11- God, make everyone rejoice who puts his trust in you. Keep them shouting for joy because you are defending them. Fell all who love you with happiness.
5. Surround yourself with those who love you!
Surround yourself with those who love you!
Do not allow this season of loss to consume you!
Plug yourself back into your family, friends and church!
God has called for us to live in vital union with our community in Galatians 6:2; it says, ” Bear one another burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
God has placed certain people around you to pour into what was missing within your life, so plug yourself back into your community.
Grab coffee with those friends, go to the movies, go out for bible study!
Whatever you do, plug yourself back into your life.
Life is passing by, and you’re missing those precious moments.
What are some ways you’re rejoicing in the Lord?
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