The journey to joy isn’t an easy path. Quotes are from the following article:
“Why You Must Leverage Your Self-Despair” by Dane C. Ortlund
For some the holiday/winter season is a difficult one. The long hours of darkness, cold, and dreary scenes of winter remind us that all is not well in our world. The season of Christmas isn’t merry for those who have lost someone to death, who are separated from loved ones due to military service, or facing a lonely season for other reasons. What about those facing unemployment or daily fighting depression and discouragement? Images created using NightCafe Studio.
Joy isn’t something that just comes to us naturally, we actively seek joy in Christ.
Self-despair in this context refers to despairing of salvation through our own efforts. We can’t ever be good enough or work hard enough to earn God’s favor or set things right in our lives. That’s the lie of religion versus the truth of grace. I recommend reading:
https://www.crossway.org/articles/why-you-must-leverage-your-self-despair/
Dane explains how that recognizing our sinful nature and trusting in Christ and a life of repentance leads us closer to Christ.
Images created using Night Cafe Studio
Quote 1
Fallen human beings enter into joy only through the door of despair.
Fullness can be had only through emptiness.
“Why You Must Leverage Your Self-Despair” crossway.com accessed 12/20/23
Jesus saves and renews the lost. Despair and emptiness (spiritual) lead a person to Christ and to turn away from all self-efforts (religion). We are powerless and lost apart from our Creator. We can’t find lasting joy or meaning/purpose in our earthly circumstances, relationships, etc. Paul explains how God’s grace (Jesus on cross) to empower us to live in Him. The context of the following passage concerns justification through Christ’s atonement versus righteousness through the law (Mosiac).
Galatians 2:20-22 Berean Standard Bible (BSB)
20I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me. 21I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Commentary:
Being crucified with Christ means that we are no longer under the penalty of the Law. That penalty was paid by Christ on our behalf. When Christ was crucified, it was as if we were crucified with Him.
The penalty was fully paid—just as surely as if we had been crucified for our own sins. When Christ rose from the dead, we rose, too.
Now the risen Christ empowers us to live for Him in a way that pleases God. We used to seek life through our own works, but now we “live by faith in the Son of God” (Galatians 2:20).
Source: https://www.gotquestions.org/crucified-with-Christ.html
There is a reason for this despair!
There is nothing noble about staying in that pit of despair.
Healthy despair is an intersection, not a highway; a gateway, not a pathway. We must go there. But we dare not stay there.
The Bible teaches, rather, that each experience of despair is to melt us afresh into deeper fellowship with Jesus.
Ibid
Our sorrows and struggles are avenues for God’s grace, compassion, and kindness to flow into our lives. The despair gives way to the light of God’s presence and grace.
Neil von Kalm in his Medium article “Why Christmas Doesn’t Have to be Merry” writes:
The New Testament theologican, N.T. Wright, talks about the seemingly ridiculous notion that God is in control of the world when all around we see war and injustice.
But he’s right. The Christ child, born in Bethlehem that starry night 2,000 years ago, brings hope where there is none, brings light where there is darkness, and brings love where there is hatred.
https://medium.com/backyard-theology/why-christmas-doesnt-have-to-be-merry-4c6a975cf7d6
He reminds us that because of Christ’s coming in Christmas that we experience hope and joy. He ends his article with this wonderfully true statement:
There are many battles seemingly being lost today in places like Gaza and Israel.
But the good news is spreading. Love is on the move, and it’s all because of a baby who just happened to be the God of the Universe coming to reconcile, restore and renew.
Neil von Kalm
Dealing with Disappointment
Billy Graham explains how multiple disappointments impact us:
“Repeated disappointment almost always triggers a series of other reactions: discouragement, anger, frustration, bitterness, resentment, and even depression. Unless we learn to deal with disappointment, it will rob us of joy and poison our soul.“
https://billygrahamlibrary.org/blog-10-quotes-from-billy-graham-on-disappointment/
How can we deal and press ahead? We focus on our ultimate destination in this journey and increase our thirst for His Presence!
I long to see [Jesus] face to face, to hear His voice and touch Him. In the day I go to be with Him, there will be no unfulfilled longings or disappointments. He will welcome me into His mansion, answer my questions, and teach me the wisdom of the ages.
Source: Ibid.
The sailing tall ship symbolizes the journey of faith. Boats require wind to move, yet wind comes from somewhere else than the boat itself. The sails must be set and adjusted properly to maximize the available wind. Joy is the wind that fills our sails and pushes us forward through the dark nights and stormy seas of our lives. May the winds of joy fill you and His Light shine down into your circumstances!
Words of Grace & Hope 