Key Verse: “We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, so that he would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” (Romans 8:28-29 CSB)
If you dig into your Bible, you’ll discover that joy is everywhere. From the Old Testament to the New, there are many verses that call us to a life of joy. The fruit of the Spirit is joy (Gal.5:22), and we are told “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). Apparently, joy is the expected experience of anyone who has come to know God through Jesus Christ.
I don’t know about you, but ‘always’ seems like a bit of a tall order. Are we really supposed to find joy in every circumstance? It’s seems reasonable when life is going well. But what about when life is hard? How is it possible to find joy in those times?
Part of the joy of knowing Jesus is the assurance that God is at work in every circumstance of our lives. Because He is God, He is completely in control of everything. Everything that happens is what He allows and it all falls under His sovereign control. He is Lord over all.
As Lord, God is at work, according to Romans 8:28, in every circumstance in such a way that will ultimately result in what is good. This doesn’t mean that our lives will be easy and free from difficulty. Instead, the joy is found in knowing that because Jesus Christ is on the throne as Lord of all, He is at work to accomplish His good purposes in us.
What are those purposes? What is the good that He is after in our lives? It is that we would be “conformed to the image of His Son” (verse 29). One of the primary purposes of God in every circumstance in your life and in mine is to make us more like Jesus.
A.W. Tozer once wrote, “When I understand that everything happening to me is to make me more Christlike, it resolves a great deal of anxiety.” Knowing this truth provides us with a whole different perspective on what is happening in our lives. It’s a reason for joy!
In 1 Peter 1:6-7, Peter writes, “You rejoice in this, even though now for a short time, if necessary, you suffer grief in various trials, so that the proven character of your faith – more valuable than gold which, though perishable, is refined by fire – may result in praise, glory and honour at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
If you know Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, take joy today knowing that He is Lord over all. In every circumstance of your life, whether good or bad, rejoice knowing that God is seeking to bring praise, glory and honour to Jesus by making you more like Him.
Prayer: God, thank you that you work all things together in my life in order to make me more like Jesus. Help me to find joy today knowing that whatever circumstances I face, you are on your throne as Lord over all. Nothing can stop what you will do. I choose to rejoice at all times. Amen.
Author: Jonathan Miller has served in pastoral roles for more than 13 years in churches in Barrie, Oakville and Burlington, Ontario. He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Prison Fellowship Canada, a ministry that mobilizes and equips local churches to engage in the restorative work of prisoners, ex-prisoners, their families, and victims across Canada. Jon holds degrees from McMaster University and Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He and his wife Adrienne have been married since 2004, and live in Burlington, Ontario with their 4 children. Jon’s greatest passion is to know Jesus and to see lives transformed by Him and for Him.
