My Soul Will Sing - Treasures of Joy & Hope

Begin to rejoice in the Lord, and your bones will flourish like an herb, and your cheeks will glow with the bloom of health and freshness. Joy is balm and healing, and if you will but rejoice, God will give power. A. B. Simpson

Recently, I read an article about the persecuted Christians in Nigeria. I read the story of Liatu. Her bright smile beamed from the screen, reflecting the joy of the Lord. But her life tells a different story - one of struggles and uncertainty. When Islamic forces raided their village, Liatu, then only eight years old, had to flee for her life. The four years that followed were years of extreme hardship, with only shadows and no light until God miraculously reunited her with her family. Liatu and other Christians around the world continue to face the threat of persecution daily. Despite this, Liatu looks to Jesus to find hope and joy. She continues to sing His praises. This is what she says: “There is something about my God, He gives me everything. My cup overflows. That is a song I love to sing. This song says, ‘Jesus give me joy.’ And He’s doing that. He gives me hope all the time.”

Hope & Joy

Hope and joy are gifts we receive from the Lord. They are gifts with eternal value, available to us no matter our circumstances. They are there for us to receive freely when we look for God’s extended hand, offering these precious gifts to us. The prophet Habakkuk saw God’s extended hand when he was confronted with the violence and turmoil around him. When he saw the devastation that had brought harm to his people. He says in Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NLT),

“Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,  yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!”

When Habakkuk took his eyes off the desolation and focused them on God’s extended hand of hope and joy, he was able to rejoice in God’s salvation despite what he saw around him. Habakkuk and Liatu found joy and hope in a God who is mighty to save, even in their most dire situations. If our awesome, all-powerful God did it for them, surely He will do it for us in our pain and struggles. Look up. See His extended hand. See His treasures of joy and hope.

Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Saviour and my God! Psalm 42:11 (NLT)

Reflection 

Are your struggles and hardships preventing you from seeing the treasures of joy and hope in God’s extended hand? Ask Him to help you look up to Him and grab hold of them.

Prayer

Thank You, Lord, for extending Your hand of joy and hope to me in my struggles and pain. Help me to receive them from Your hand. Help me to be anchored in Your joy and peace so that I can have that assurance that You are mighty to save me out of all my troubles. In Jesus’ name, amen.