Introduction
“For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands, I sing for joy.” Psalm 92:4
Thousands of years ago, King Solomon observed, “I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live…” (Ecclesiastes 3:12) Still today, we sing songs about happiness and take trips (physically and mentally) to our happy places. We look for joy in nature, each other, and various activities. Indeed, the pursuit of happiness is considered by many to be a natural, God-given right.
But how do we know happiness when our circumstances are dark and we feel sad? What do we do when we get the word that someone we love has died, our business has failed, our relationship is fractured, or our body is diseased?
At a very difficult time in his life and ministry, Paul wrote, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” (2 Corinthians 4:16-18). And he gave the reason for his courage and hope amid difficult circumstances in 2 Corinthians 4:14, “because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself.”
Friend, circumstances are not always happy, but when you know “the One who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead,” you can have never-ending joy. Dear friend, Jesus has worked mightily for you on the cross, and He is even now interceding for you before the throne of God. For this reason, you can look to Him and sing with joy whether your cupboards are full (Psalm 65:11), or you are facing the fight of your life (1 Timothy 6:12-13).
Illustration
The Bible tells us about a man named Stephen who was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” (Acts 6:5), as he was always looking at Jesus. “All who were sitting in the Sanhedrin looked intently at Stephen, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel” (Acts 6:15). He gave out the message of Jesus Christ and Him crucified (Acts 7:37, 52, 56), and this brought joy to his heart, amid the persecution of his life.
For preaching the death and resurrection of Christ, Stephen was stoned. But notice how God sustained Stephen and gave him joy through this terrible ordeal that ended in his death:
“When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!” Acts 7:54–56 NKJV
What did Stephen see as he was being stoned? He saw Jesus standing at the right hand of God! Jesus, though always seated at the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 10:12), rose to greet Stephen. And in seeing Jesus, Stephen saw heaven opened (the same thing John saw in Revelation 19:11). Stephen understood the secret to having joy in hostile circumstances.
At the cross, Jesus offered Himself as your sacrifice, and as He did, the temple veil in the most holy place was torn in two from top to bottom. Jesus opened up a new and living way for you to come into the presence of God clothed in His sacrifice (Hebrews 10:20). You can now boldly come before the throne of God and, like Stephen, receive sustaining grace that produces joy in your heart and enables you to sing through the painful and frightening moments of life (Hebrews 4:16, Acts 16:25).
Stephen’s tormentors hurled stones at him, but he did not focus on his persecutors or the rocks that they threw. Stephen looked at Jesus and had joy, which radiated on his face (Acts 6:15). He bravely faced death because He was looking to Jesus, who had overcome death for him. Sadness cannot prevail and is replaced with joy when looking at Jesus.
Application
Are you feeling heavy in your heart, mourning the loss of a loved one, a relationship, or your health? Are you full of sadness? Look to Jesus and remember that He was engulfed in darkness on the cross, forsaken for you so that you would be raised to walk in the light of His love and presence (John 8:12, 1 John 1:7). He has borne your sicknesses and carried your sorrows so that you would not be overcome (Isaiah 53:4-5) by them. Come to the cross, believe in Jesus, and “rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:8-9).
Are you looking for happiness in temporary things? Have you looked for joy in your job or hobbies, your spouse, children, church or friends only to be disappointed again and again? Have you drunk of sparkling wine (or food, sexual impurity, etc.) thinking it would bring you happiness only to wake up with bitter regret (Proverbs 23:31-32)? Look to Jesus and see that He drank the bitter cup of God’s wrath, suffered utter disappointment, gave up everything, was abandoned by everyone on the cross so that He could give you fullness of joy and eternal happiness (Psalm 16:11). Come to Him, sit at His feet, delight in Him; Jesus satisfies. He is the One that you want and need.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence, there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. Psalm 16:11
Question: How does looking to Jesus’ death and resurrection bring joy to your heart today?
Judy writes, “Dear Lord, Thank you for who you are and all you have done for me sending Your Son to die on the cross for me, covering all my sins and the sins of all. Jesus, You have suffered much on my behalf and you care for me more than anyone else could ever even think. Thank you for all that you are and all that you do. I pray that you will help me to have the faith that I need to do what is right and to always keep my eyes and my attitude centered on you. Amen
Jen writes, “What do I have to be sad about!!! He took all the sadness, the sin, the darkness on Himself so that I can WALK in the light and have His JOY in my life!!!.“
Jeromy writes, “Knowing that I have life in Jesus! That I am dead to myself and alive in Him! That He took it all upon Himself at the cross and I am forever grateful and find my peace and joy resting in my Lord and Saviour, my Good Shepherd! Thank you Lord Jesus!“
Desiree writes, “Hallelujah! Thank you, Lord Jesus. Knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also with Jesus and bring us with you into his presence. 2 cor 4:14 As Stephen being the first mourner, and how afraid he would have been. He kept his eyes on Jesus and not on his circumstances, fear, or anything else. What a joy that no other but Jesus gives. So, instead looking to the temporary things in my life. I will be like my brother in Christ Stephen. What a JOYOUS moment when I died. (Daily to self and when my race is finished) Keeping my eyes on Jesus, My faith in God, And Full of the Holy Spirit.”
Reprinted by permission from the Looking to Jesus study at www.settingcaptivesfree.com. SCF exists to help men and women find freedom in Christ through the gospel.