Category: Joy

Letters whose topic focuses on Guilt

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Enduring Joy From Our Immutable Father

My dear sister,

This past month I have been using my quiet time to pray through the attributes of God. (Praying the Attributes of God by Rosemary Jensen) One of my most cherished attributes of God is that He is immutable. It is not a word used much in our modern English language, but for some odd reason I really like the way it sounds when saying it. It means unchanging! Our God is unchanging! What a profound truth in a day and age where life’s pace is constantly changing. Staying up to date with the latest technology is just one example of this constant state of flux.

I want to share with you how deeper still my thoughts go when I stop to consider that my Heavenly Father, who never changes (James 1:17), has purposed me to be saved. And not just saved but sanctified as well. In fact; God’s plan for saving me was set in motion (determined) before the creation of the world (Ephesians 1:4). The whole purpose for saving me was so that God would change me (Romans 8:29-30)! I’m not sure about you, but I need to repeat that.

God is unchanging (the same today as yesterday and for all eternity) and His whole purpose for my salvation (as is for all who trust in His Son’s perfect sacrifice) is to change me more and more into the image of His Son, Jesus Christ. Sometimes that is hard to swallow. However, my point in writing to you sweet sister in Christ, is not to confuse you but to encourage you. My hope is that the beauty, indeed the completeness, of this truth is sinking in to your heart as you read this.

This truth of who God is; and what He has purposed for you and I in light of that Truth, is what brings us enduring peace and joy. Knowing that our immutable God has an unchanging plan- to save us and to sanctify us (change us- set us apart from the rest of the world) so that when we arrive in heaven with Him we will bear the image of His perfect Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior!

Your joy, like Christ’s (Hebrews 12:2) is set before you! Can your heart see it? Can you taste it? Your joy is complete and everlasting. Nothing has happened since the foundation of the world that has changed His plan to save you. Nothing has happened or will happen to undo your salvation. Nothing can happen that will change His plan to sanctify you until He brings you to glory.

Can you sense the fullness of this Truth? Is it filling up your soul as you contemplate it? Does not your heart overflow with joy in the knowledge that you belong to this Immutable God? This joy is everlasting because it comes from your everlasting Father. This joy will always remain despite your circumstances, despite your problems, trials or errors of judgement on your part. Take courage in that; Today, your joy is complete and it will remain for eternity!

My prayer for you as I close this letter, is that the joy of your salvation will shine brightly into your world, that all men may see it and Praise God’s Holy name. (Matthew 5:16)

“Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
Psalm 51:12

Your sister,
Susan

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Choose Joy

Dear sisters,

“What makes you happy Colleen?”  My husband asked.  I thought for a second.  After a tough day of the constant training of a tenacious two year old, I do find respite in a frothy latte and a bowl of cookies and cream ice cream.  A smile comes to my face as I lounge and indulge in the smoothness of both on my tongue.  The delicate delights of this special treat may last that night, but the doleful doldrums of training a sinful heart return in full force the next morning.  I feel like in this world I often seek immediate happiness in my circumstances, but what I really desire is a deep lasting joy.  But what is joy?

Joy is not contingent on a dessert or massage.  As a believer, the Lord commands me to have joy in all circumstances…even ones that are difficult and painful.  James writes to dispersed Christians to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.”

But how do we do that, sweet sisters?  How do we have joy when all our children are crying at once?  When a loved one dies?  When we have another miscarriage?  When our adoption falls through?  When we feel as though our marriage is falling apart?  Oh, it is tough.  It is so tough to choose joy.  Yet we are commanded to throughout scripture.  The hope we have is that scripture tells us from where true and lasting joy comes.  It comes from Christ!  When we find our joy in the fact we have been forgiven of our sins and saved from the eternal wrath of God because of what he did on the cross, we have joy!  We are thankful Jesus took our ultimate fate of death and gave us eternal life in heaven!  That means our trials on earth get put in the proper perspective so even in the sadness of our circumstances, we have a deep joy in our hope in Christ!  Even in our disappointments and hardships, we know this world is not our home.  Our home is yet to come and sadness, death, tears, fears, and disappointments will all be forgotten!

If that is not encouraging enough, scripture also tells us we find joy in trials as we realize the Lord is drawing us to Himself during these times.  He is near to the broken hearted and hears all our cries.  He is making us more dependent on Him which is where we want to be.  He is shaking off the chaff of our lives, making us more like Christ.  He loves us so much that our trials bring us closer to Him, rather than further away.  Our trust in the goodness of our Sovereign God in difficult times brings us unadulterated joy!

Oh, live here sister!  Choose the joy that only comes from Christ!  Don’t settle for the fleeting happiness of a latte or ice cream.  Don’t live in the despair of circumstances.  Lift your eyes to the heavens where your help comes because in our weakness, He is strong.

Your sister,

Colleen