Rejoice!! Our Promises are Greater Than Our Circumstances
The Joy Equation… Knowledge + Faith = Joy
Many people think of joy as extreme happiness or “happiness on steroids” – the opposite of sadness or depression. But joy is different than any other emotion because it is fueled by knowledge – not triggered by circumstances.
When we add our faith to the knowledge of God’s Word and the promises therein, we “know” that nothing can separate us from our appointed destiny. Our circumstances no longer factor into the equation. Joy is produced when we realize that God is in control, faithful and great in any season. Joy is looking at life with an eternal perspective.
We’ve read the back of “the book”. We know the outcome, we are promised the victory, why do we get bogged down in the process and lose hope? We have no excuse, as mature Christians, to get emotionally hijacked by our difficulties. God’s promises guarantee our victory.
There are three things we should remember about the promises of God.
1. The promises of God always come to pass
2. The promises of God never expire
3. The promises of God are available to everyone
God is no respecter of person. Any promise in the Word, even those intended exclusively for others, is available to us – our faith and desire can bypass dispensations, covenants and lineage to secure our need. Think of the Word as a treasure trove of answers (which it is!) to all of life’s questions and concerns. The thousands of promises of God recorded therein are waiting to be claimed and applied to whosoever will choose them, believe, and wait for them to come to pass.
Here are a dozen promises from the Word (NIV) that we can claim as our own.
Sorrow turns to joy
Psalm 126:5-6 Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. He who goes out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with him.
The Lord will never leave us
Psalm 94:14-15 For the LORD will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance.
Fear conquered
Psalm 118:1:6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
The righteous will be preserved
Psalm 92:11-14 My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes. 12 The righteous will flourish like a palm tree;
they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; 13 planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. 14They will still bear fruit in old age; they will stay fresh and green,
God will rebuild that which has been destroyed
Ezra 3:11-13 And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid. 12 But many of the older priests and Levites and family heads, who had seen the former temple, wept aloud when they saw the foundation of this temple being laid, while many others shouted for joy. 13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise. And the sound was heard far away.
God will change the heart of those that oppose you
Ezra 6:22 For seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria, so that he assisted them in the work on the house of God, the God of Israel.
Hope will be doubly rewarded
Zechariah 9:12 Return to your fortress, O prisoners of hope; even now I announce that I will restore twice as much to you.
The Lord will be in control of your today
Psalm 118:24 This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.
Provision is coming!
Haggai 2:19 Is there yet any seed left in the barn? Until now, the vine and the fig tree, the pomegranate and the olive tree have not borne fruit. From this day on I will bless you.’ “
The enemy, no matter how powerful, will be routed!
Haggai 2:22 I will overturn royal thrones and shatter the power of the foreign kingdoms. I will overthrow chariots and their drivers; horses and their riders will fall, each by the sword of his brother.
The Lord will make you his ambassador
Haggai 2:23 ” ‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”
The Lord will alleviate your stress
Psalm 94:19 When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.
