Our Heart’s Desire
Colossians 1:11 … being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience WITH JOY.
Anybody got troubles? Jesus said in this world there will be trouble. There WILL be pain. There WILL be trials. There WILL be disappointment and unmet expectations. There WILL be ….. trouble.
So why do I continuously act surprised or frustrated or angry when trouble comes? I should be expecting it. Prepared for it.
But I’m not. Not really. Trouble frustrates me. Burdens me. Exhausts me.
And yet Colossians 1:10-11 says that living worthy of the Lord is to be strengthened with all power to have great endurance and patience with joy.
Endurance: duration under stress or pain; to suffer without yielding.
Patience: suffering with a calm, unruffled temper; to endure trouble without murmuring or fretting.
The strength to endure trouble without murmuring or fretting will never be found in ourselves. It’s only and always found in Jesus.
But notice those last two little words tacked to the end of verse 11: WITH JOY! The strength He provides is not only for patient endurance, but patient endurance WITH JOY.
Joy: excitement caused by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire.
Did you catch that? Joy is connected to what we love and desire.
What do you love and desire? Is it for a relationship to meet every need and expectation? Is it perfect circumstances? A fulfilling career? Better stuff? Joy is connected to our desires. When we expect this world to meet our needs and desires, joy will be fleeting — because this world never satisfies. In this life, there will be trouble. That is a promise. But if HE is what and who we love and desire, then we can have joy in the midst of trouble because HE IS WITH us. We already HAVE what we ultimately long for — His Presence.
“When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you pass through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD your God …. you are precious to Me … and I love you”.
Isaiah 43:2-4 NLT
Great encouragement to me!
These are so good and timely for me, Tammy!
I absolutely love this but especially the last paragraph, first sentence. ‘When you go through deep waters, ‘I’ will be with you’ . Glory be to God.
Amen!
Also love the last paragraph. God is with us always.