| With news of a huge volcanic ash cloud covering a | | | | determine their actions and responses to what life |
| large portion of the earth, multiple massive | | | | throws at them in adulthood. |
| earthquakes, floods, hurricanes and other natural | | | | Philippians 4:11-12 'I have learned how to be content |
| disasters killing thousands upon thousands of people, | | | | with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost |
| joy is not something that half the world are | | | | nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret |
| experiencing right now. Add to these natural | | | | of living in every situation, whether it is with a full |
| disasters, the high level of violent crime, wars, HIV | | | | stomach or empty, with plenty or little.' Here the |
| Aids, Tuberculosis, Malaria, human trafficking, drug | | | | writer (Paul) indicates that no matter how bad his |
| addiction, etc., etc., and this world looks a very bleak | | | | situation may be he has learnt to be content. He |
| and sorry place. I could continue with further horrors | | | | concludes his comments by saying "I can do |
| that we all know about but that is not my purpose | | | | everything through Him who gives me strength." (Phil |
| here. My purpose is to show you that you can | | | | 4:13) Psalm 34:5,8 'Those who look to Him for help |
| experience a joy that goes beyond mere happiness | | | | will be radiant with joy; no shadow of shame will |
| and that is strong enough to sustain you through all | | | | darken their faces....... Taste and see that the Lord is |
| situations. | | | | good. Oh the joys of those who take refuge in Him.' |
| God created us with feelings. We are emotional | | | | The kind of joy that the Bible teaches us about is |
| beings and we experience emotional highs and lows - | | | | much deeper and stronger than what society |
| sometimes in a very short space of time. These | | | | teaches us gives us joy! The joy that we get from a |
| emotional swings are not what I am speaking about. | | | | personal relationship with our Creator is a joy that is |
| The kind of joy that we experience from knowing | | | | far greater than just happiness. It is a joy that gives |
| God and accepting Jesus Christ as our Saviour and | | | | us strength through the really hard times because we |
| Lord is on a totally different level. | | | | know that we can trust our Lord, that He will always |
| When we think about happiness and what makes us | | | | see us through the bad times. It is a joy that gives |
| happy, people generally respond with things like | | | | us hope as we look at a world filled with depravity, |
| enough money to retire young, to be able to pay for | | | | death and disasters because we know that God has |
| a decent education for their children, a bigger house, | | | | an eternal future for us and that He loves us so |
| all things that are dependent on money. Alternatively | | | | much that He wants us to spend forever in His |
| they will mention good health, a happy family, a | | | | presence. It is a joy that gives us peace because we |
| holiday overseas for all their loved ones and so on. | | | | do not have to do anything to "prove" ourselves to |
| Again though, these things are transient and cover | | | | God. All He wants is our love and our surrendered |
| only the time that we spend on this earth. In | | | | hearts because he loves us just as we are. Finally it is |
| addition, we cannot guarantee good health, even the | | | | the joy that comes from knowing that God will guide |
| best doctors cannot cure cancer and other terminal | | | | you through all things if you let Him and that |
| illnesses. Nor can we be sure that we will always | | | | wherever He guides you, you can have peace of |
| have a happy family life. We can raise our children in | | | | mind in the knowledge that He will guide you to the |
| a loving, God-honouring way, but we cannot | | | | best things for you. |