Replacing The Cactus of Suffering With His Joy | Part 4
From Suffering to Joy: Embracing God's Promise of Healing and Restoration
By Warren David Horak
The Lord has promised that joy will come in the mourning.
He has also promised that no one can steal the joy has already given you.
There are two types of joy that He gives you.
Today we look at how to enter and abide in His joy no matter what happens in our lives.
Isaiah 61:3 To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
The Lord is saying to you today;
"You do not have to live any longer in that place of suffering!"
"I will replace the cactus of pain in your life with My Joy."
Watch the video below
Introduction
In the midst of life's storms and trials, it's all too easy to find ourselves adrift, tossed about by the waves of suffering and sorrow.
The challenges we face can feel overwhelming, leaving us questioning where true joy can be found.
However, in the midst of our darkest moments, God's Word shines a brilliant light, revealing a path that leads us from suffering to joy – a path paved by His promises of abundant life.
The Joy of Salvation
The first type of joy that God offers us is an anchor in the turbulent seas of life – the joy of salvation.
When we accept Jesus Christ as our Savior, our names are eternally inscribed in the Book of Life, granting us the gift of everlasting life and a place in God's eternal kingdom.
Rejoice that your names are written in heaven. (Luke 10:20 NKJV)
This truth alone is a wellspring of joy that should permeate every fiber of our being, for it means that we have been rescued from the bondage of sin and death.
No matter how fierce the storms of life may rage, we can find solace and unshakable joy in the knowledge that our names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life, and nothing – no trial, no hardship, no power of darkness – can separate us from the love of God (Romans 8:38-39).
The joy of salvation is not a fleeting emotion; it is a constant state of being, a deep-rooted peace that transcends our circumstances.
Even when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we need not fear, for our Savior is with us, guiding us and filling us with His joy (Psalm 23:4).
The Joy of Answered Prayers
The second type of joy on our journey from suffering to joy is the joy that comes when God answers our prayers.
In John 16:24, Jesus Himself encouraged us to ask the Father in His name, promising that our joy would be made complete:
"Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full." (John 16:24 NKJV)
When we witness God's hand moving in our lives, answering our prayers and meeting our needs in His perfect timing, it ignites a flame of joy within us that cannot be extinguished.
This joy is a testament to God's faithfulness, a tangible reminder that He is always working for our good, even when we cannot see it (Romans 8:28).
The joy of answered prayers is not just a momentary feeling of elation; it is a deep-seated assurance that our Heavenly Father hears us, loves us, and desires to bless us beyond our wildest dreams.
It is a living hope that sustains us through the darkest nights, reminding us that our God is a God of miracles, and that His plans for us are good, filled with a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).
The Joy of Persecution
The third type of joy on our journey from suffering to joy may seem counterintuitive, but it is a profound truth that Jesus Himself proclaimed.
This is the joy that comes from suffering persecution for the sake of righteousness.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12 NKJV)
At first glance, these words may seem paradoxical – how can we find joy in the midst of persecution and suffering?
Yet, Jesus' command to "rejoice and be exceedingly glad" when we face opposition for His name's sake reveals a deep spiritual truth: our joy is not rooted in earthly circumstances, but in the eternal rewards that await us in heaven.
When we can rejoice in the face of persecution, we are testifying to the world that our hope and our joy are not derived from this temporary life, but from the eternal, unshakable kingdom of God.
We are proclaiming that our joy is anchored in Christ, and that no earthly trial or tribulation can separate us from the love and the promises of our Heavenly Father.
This joy in the midst of suffering is a powerful witness to the transformative power of God's love.
It is a living testimony that draws others to the source of our joy – Jesus Christ, the author and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).
Replacing Cactuses with Joy
Throughout the sermon notes and transcript, there is a recurring theme that echoes the very heart of God – replacing the cactuses of suffering and pain with the overflowing joy of His abundant life.
The Bible promises that God will turn our mourning into joy and give us the "oil of joy for mourning" (Isaiah 61:3).
"To console those who mourn in Zion, to give them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness." (Isaiah 61:3 NKJV)
This promise of joy is not limited to a specific circumstance or situation; it is a universal offer from God to all who are willing to surrender their cactuses of suffering and embrace the joy He has prepared for them.
From suffering to joy is a journey that God desires for each of us to take, as He transforms our mourning into dancing and our sorrow into celebration.
The Abundance of Joy
One of the most striking aspects of God's promise of joy is the abundance with which it is offered.
The Bible speaks of God's goodness saturating our souls, like a well-watered garden that no longer sorrows:
"Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, streaming to the goodness of the Lord – for wheat and new wine and oil, for the young of the flock and the herd; their souls shall be like a well-watered garden, and they shall sorrow no more at all." (Jeremiah 31:12 NKJV)
God's joy is not a mere trickle or a temporary reprieve; it is a never-ending river of living water, flowing from the innermost being of those who have surrendered their lives to Christ.
This abundance of joy is meant to overflow and touch the lives of those around us, drawing them to the source of our joy – the Lord Jesus Christ.
Just as the boy's small lunch was multiplied to feed thousands (John 6:1-14), so too can our joy be multiplied and shared with others, spreading like ripples on the surface of a still pond.
When we allow God's joy to saturate our souls, it becomes a wellspring of hope and encouragement, a beacon that shines brightly in the darkness, inviting others to partake of the abundant life found in Christ.
-His joy is our strength-
The more joy we have the stronger we become.
Conclusion
The journey from suffering to joy is a path that God has lovingly prepared for each of us. He desires to replace the cactuses of pain, sorrow, and suffering in our lives with the overflowing joy of His abundant life.
Whether it is the joy of salvation, the joy of answered prayers, or the joy of enduring persecution for His sake, God's promise of joy is available to all who will embrace it.
As we surrender our burdens and cactuses to the Lord, He will fill us with His joy, saturating our souls with His goodness and enabling us to be a living testimony of His transformative power.
May we never settle for mere happiness or fleeting pleasures, but instead, embrace the fullness of God's joy, which is our strength and our inheritance as children of the Most High God.
In the words of the psalmist, "Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning" (Psalm 30:5 NKJV).
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, and allow Him to lead us on this journey from suffering to joy, trusting in His unfailing love and His promises of abundant life.
FAQ on "Suffering to Joy"
Finding joy in the midst of suffering may seem counterintuitive, but it is possible through our relationship with God. When we focus on the joy of our salvation, the promises of God, and the eternal reward that awaits us, we can find strength and joy even in the darkest moments.
Additionally, praising God, meditating on His Word, and surrounding ourselves with a community of believers can help us shift our perspective and embrace the joy that is available to us through Christ.
Ultimately, true joy is rooted in our identity as children of God, and as we abide in His presence, His joy will sustain us even in the most challenging circumstances.
Happiness is often temporary and based on external circumstances, while joy is a deep-rooted sense of contentment and peace that comes from our relationship with God. Happiness can be fleeting, but true joy transcends our circumstances and is rooted in the unchanging nature of God and the eternal promises found in His Word. Happiness is an emotion that can ebb and flow, but joy is a state of being that is anchored in the unwavering love and faithfulness of our Heavenly Father.
To cultivate more joy in your life, it's important to spend time in God's presence through prayer, worship, and studying His Word. Meditating on the promises of God and the joy of your salvation can help shift your mindset toward joy. Additionally, practicing gratitude and focusing on the blessings in your life can help you maintain a joyful perspective, even in difficult circumstances. Surrounding yourself with a community of believers who can encourage and uplift you can also be a powerful source of joy. Above all, remember that joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, and as you abide in Christ and surrender your cactuses of suffering to Him, His joy will naturally overflow in your life.
