Today there are many methods that people of the world achieve joy and peace. We must ask ourselves are we turning to the Lord for our source of joy and peace or are we turning to the things of this world? While there are certain resources on earth that we can turn to we must be certain that our number one source is God first.
Romans 15:13 (ESV) tells us, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”. As believers, it is God who fills us with joy and peace. We must realize that our only source of hope is within God. So many people in the world right now are worried and caught up with all the current events taking place and are worried about how much worse things could get. We should rest assured that God’s plan will be carried out till the very end.
I personally believe that joy and peace will go hand in hand. If you are lacking in the fruit of joy, then you are likely lacking in the fruit of peace. Many people often wonder why they go through difficult seasons in their lives. Sadly, many pulpits teach that when you become a Christian that everything in life will be smooth sailing, however, this type of preaching contradicts Biblical and historic Christianity. While God will provide for us according to His Word, He also tells us that we will face trials and that we will even be hated by the world.
However, anything that the enemy has intended for evil, the Lord will use it for our good. James 1:2-3 (AMP) tells us, “Consider it nothing but joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you fall into various trials. Be assured that the testing of your faith [through experience] produces endurance [leading to spiritual maturity, and inner peace].”. As we go through trials, we are to fully put our faith in the Lord. We are to be fully submitted to His Word. When we are submitted, we will begin to see a growth in spiritual maturity. Meaning that our understanding of God’s Word will grow, our level of holiness and sanctification will grow, and the fruits of the Spirit will produce more in our lives. Furthermore, as we go through trials and fully rely on God, we will notice an increase in true Biblical peace within ourselves, and this, in turn, should also result in joy.
Romans 8:28 tells us, “And we know [with great confidence] that God [who is deeply concerned about us] causes all things to work together [as a plan] for good for those who love God, to those who are called according to His plan and purpose.”. No matter what it is in life you are going through we must rely upon God and His Will for our lives. We must be believers as the Word of God calls us to be, this means studying and meditating on the Word of God, worship, and praying.