What's going on in your life right now? Some of us are going through "hard" times. Some of us are going through "good" times. Others are just existing and feel "numb". Sometimes it's diffucult to "see" that we all live in the context of God's grace and that every experience, and whatever emotion is tied to it, is a gift from God. "I'm financially upside-down... that's a gift from God?" "My spouse dislikes me...that's a gift from God?" "I've been diagnosed with cancer...that's a gift from God?" Life, as hard as it can be, is a gift from God. It's much better than the alternative! How do we get "joy" in the storm? In Luke 8:40-56, Jairus whose 12-year-old daughter is dying falls at Jesus' feet and pleads with him to come to his house and heal his daughter. On the way the crowds are slowing them up and Jesus stops to talk to a woman who touched his cloak and is healed of an untreatable disease. I'm pretty sure Jairus just wanted Jesus to get to his house and heal his daughter. While Jesus is talking to this woman a report comes from Jairus' house that his daughter is dead. "My daughter died...that's a gift from God?" But... Jesus asks Jairus to not be afraid and to believe that his daughter will be healed. When Jesus gets to Jairus' house, he raises his daughter from the dead. Nothing is impossible for Jesus! This is what I suggest for a life of joy... 1. Fall at Jesus' beautiful feet in worship and beg Him to come to your house2. No matter the situation, don't be afraid, but believe that God can and will raise you too.
Pastor Eric
