In my morning devotional time, I have been reading through the book of Isaiah.
Today I was in chapter 29.
These verses were highlighted: "the humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Is. 29: 19)
When I think of poverty, of being poor, I certainly don't think about rejoicing!
I have had years of being poor. Not super poor. But....just being so financially strapped due to car loans, college loans, full-time graduate school/interning, and living as a single, young 20-something starting life in a new city. That was a difficult year, financially. Yet....I had the joy of the Lord.
How?
Because my joy was not coming from circumstances but from the True Life Source: Almighty God. I was happy in my situation. I loved graduate school at the university. I loved sharing an awesome flat with my younger sister (who happens to be named Joy!) and our friend. I loved living in this new city. I loved the internship program and new church I was visiting. I loved my new friends/colleagues. I did not like how broke I was. Yes, my tuition was fully paid for by the fellowship award I had won. Yes, I was receiving a small stipend of $65.00 per week (it was 1986). Yes, I had a graduate school loan out to cover housing, food, car insurance. But...I was poor. Yet, I was joyful.
Those things listed above were just shallow, temporal things when compared to the character of God I was learning about. The love of God I was embracing. The protection of God I was clinging to. And I was walking in the plan He had for me. The more we know and learn of those things, the more joy we will experience.
Real joy. The kind that bubbles up from our innermost being, our soul, even if circumstances are tough. Joy doesn't come in from the world around us, it bubbles up from the inside of us.
No matter what our circumstances are, we can experience true joy.
Learn and experience God's protection, love, character and perfect plan for you......then you will have true joy.
Today I was in chapter 29.
These verses were highlighted: "the humble also shall increase their joy in the Lord, and the poor among men shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel." (Is. 29: 19)
When I think of poverty, of being poor, I certainly don't think about rejoicing!
I have had years of being poor. Not super poor. But....just being so financially strapped due to car loans, college loans, full-time graduate school/interning, and living as a single, young 20-something starting life in a new city. That was a difficult year, financially. Yet....I had the joy of the Lord.
How?
Because my joy was not coming from circumstances but from the True Life Source: Almighty God. I was happy in my situation. I loved graduate school at the university. I loved sharing an awesome flat with my younger sister (who happens to be named Joy!) and our friend. I loved living in this new city. I loved the internship program and new church I was visiting. I loved my new friends/colleagues. I did not like how broke I was. Yes, my tuition was fully paid for by the fellowship award I had won. Yes, I was receiving a small stipend of $65.00 per week (it was 1986). Yes, I had a graduate school loan out to cover housing, food, car insurance. But...I was poor. Yet, I was joyful.
Those things listed above were just shallow, temporal things when compared to the character of God I was learning about. The love of God I was embracing. The protection of God I was clinging to. And I was walking in the plan He had for me. The more we know and learn of those things, the more joy we will experience.
Real joy. The kind that bubbles up from our innermost being, our soul, even if circumstances are tough. Joy doesn't come in from the world around us, it bubbles up from the inside of us.
No matter what our circumstances are, we can experience true joy.
Learn and experience God's protection, love, character and perfect plan for you......then you will have true joy.
2 comments:
I'm thankful for inner peace and the joy that you speak of.
AMEN! We were the same way when I was a SAHM for 5 years. I always tell people we were "broke and happy!" The joy of the Lord is our strength.
Great post Faith!
Sandy
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