I know that in this season joy has felt far from you. Life has felt hard going, and your circumstances have been tough. You have felt that you ‘should’ be joyful in all things, but in reality this has been just outside of your grasp.
My child, release the pressure you have placed upon yourself – for I do not expect you to always feel happy in all things; happiness and joy are not the same.
When I went to Gethsemane My soul was overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. I understand the human reality of emotion, and the physical toll it can take upon you. But in these times there is a depth of joy that you have full access to, because of the price that I paid on the cross.
The true depth of joy is gritty and authentic, and is found when you dig deep enough – beyond the overwhelm of your emotions, and into the true hope that one day every tear will be wiped from your eyes. When I return victorious.
For your hope is not in the things of this world, but in the victory that I have won on your behalf. When troubles come, stand firm and dig down into the depth of joy that you can fully access through My sacrifice and victory. For in despair, true joy grows from the hope that is found in the One that has conquered death for your freedom.
Activation: Read the passage below from Hebrews a few times and ask the Lord to show you what it means in the Spirit. Press into verse 2 where it says ‘for the joy set before Him He endured the cross.’ Ask Jesus what that depth of joy involves, and how you can access it.
Jesus, the Example
1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of [a]witnesses [who by faith have testified to the truth of God’s absolute faithfulness], stripping off every unnecessary weight and the sin which so easily and cleverly entangles us, let us run with endurance and active persistence the race that is set before us,
2 [looking away from all that will distract us and] focusing our eyes on Jesus, who is the Author and Perfecter of faith [the first incentive for our belief and the One who brings our faith to maturity], who for the joy [of accomplishing the goal] set before Him endured the cross, [b]disregarding the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God [revealing His deity, His authority, and the completion of His work].
3 Just consider and meditate on Him who endured from sinners such bitter hostility against Himself [consider it all in comparison with your trials], so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Hebrews 12:1-3 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Hebrews 12:1 i.e. the people commended for their faith in ch 11. See 11:2, 39.
[b] Hebrews 12:2 Sometimes the public shame of the cross is overlooked when one thinks of the pain and agony inflicted by it, but in the Roman Empire crucifixion was a shameful and disgraceful way to die, a form of capital punishment from which Roman citizens were exempt; and in Roman comedy it was used in a curse: “Go to a bad cross!”
The Garden of Gethsemane
36 Then Jesus came with them to a place called [a]Gethsemane (olive-press), and He told His disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”
37 And taking with Him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee [James and John], He began to be grieved and greatly distressed.
38 Then He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved, so that I am almost dying of sorrow. Stay here and stay awake and keep watch with Me.”
39 And after going a little farther, He fell face down and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it is possible[that is, consistent with Your will], let this cup [b]pass from Me; yet not as I will, but as You will.”
Matthew 26:36-39 (AMP)
Footnotes
[a] Matthew 26:36 This beautiful garden filled with now ancient olive trees still exists.
[b] Matthew 26:39 Jesus’ request was heard (Heb 5:7), and it is unlikely that He asked to avoid the cross. The object of His request cannot be known with certainty, but some think that He was asking for resurrection following His death. In that case, the “cup” would represent His body’s remaining in the grave, which would be contrary to the plan of salvation and prophecy regarding His resurrection (Ps 16:10; cf Acts 2:24-27). Others think that the request related to the time of separation from the Father, which He would have to endure in death (see 27:46). However, the sense of Heb 5:7 could be that the Father listened to Him intently and comforted Him, while not sparing His Son the suffering which He had destined for Him.
#lionbites
Unapologetically Marcia 