It can be difficult to rejoice when we’re facing various trials. The Apostle Peter’s first epistle is a brief handbook on developing a perspective for dealing with suffering in our lives. Peter commended his audience as he observed their great joy in the midst of various trials:

In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, (1 Peter 1:6)

How could these people greatly rejoice in the midst of various trials? Peter revealed the key – it was their abiding relationship in Jesus:

and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, (1 Peter 1:8)

Although these disciples had not seen Jesus, they loved Him. Jesus taught a key characteristic of our love for God is demonstrated through our obedience:

He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him. (John 14:21)

Does your life demonstrate a deep and abiding love toward Jesus? Not only did they love Jesus, but they believed in Him. Although Peter had the opportunity to see the risen Lord, the recipients of his letter had not seen Him. This however, was not a spiritual disadvantage. Jesus delivered one of the great paradoxes of the Christian faith as He spoke to Thomas:

Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” (John 20:29)

Our love and belief results in a life of inexpressible joy. The word inexpressible literally means that which cannot be spoken. It conveys an unutterable and ineffable emotion that transcends our human experience. Have you experienced this type of joy? The world offers us many alternatives to joy. We may seek fulfillment through our performance in what we can do. We may seek popularity or fame to validate our happiness. Some people amass possessions seeking to fill the emptiness within. Others may resort to pleasure seeking and enter into a hedonistic lifestyle. These however are empty substitutes for true, biblical joy.

Joy is independent of our external circumstances, but is based upon a deep and abiding relationship with God. This is the reason why adversity does not need to take away your joy. The night before Jesus was crucified, He revealed to His disciples how to access this joy:

Until now you have asked for nothing in My name; ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be made full. (John 16:24)

Marathoner Haruki Murakami reminds us, “Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional.” As you come to God in prayer, you may overcome the suffering in your life and receive His fullness of joy.

Associate Pastor – Discipleship.  The Church at LifePark

Professor of Discipleship, Columbia International University

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