Cheerful Annoyance

Is it possible to be frustrated by circumstances, annoyed by difficulties, concerned about possibilities, and cheerful at the same time? Not only is it possible, to whatever extent the former may be appropriate, to the same extent the latter must be mandatory. We often speak of Christian joy as an attitude based on objective, transcendent, and immutable realities. In other words, Christians rejoice in all circumstances because God’s Word and work is true and unchangeable. Our peace, joy, and hope are grounded in who God is, what Christ has done, and what he has promised to his people. Christian joy is a conviction, decision, and disposition, not an emotion. We can and should rejoice no matter our present circumstances or how we feel at any given point in time. But we must be careful not to divorce this spiritual joy from temporal and personal emotions. The two are distinguishable, but not separable; they are different, but closely related. Christian joy is a decision, expressed in action, and it will transform our emotions.

The Christian’s joy is an attitude that gives priority to what is eternally true over whatever may seem, feel, or even be true at a given moment. My shoulder is sore, but Christ endured the pain of Hell and quenched God’s wrath against my sin forever. Both are true. Which truth will dominate my heart and mind and determine my attitude today? My child fell ill with the same chronic affliction that has been a defining feature of my life for more than 31 years, but Jesus has promised to return and put an end to the curse, to heal every sickness among his people, and to wipe away every tear from our eyes. Both are true. Which truth will I meditate upon each day? I sometimes feel as though my work as a minister accomplishes very little, that hours spent in study, teaching, and pastoral care make almost no difference in the lives of God’s saints, that these labors are no more than beautiful music that people love to listen to but which makes no difference in their lives, but the Lord has urged his servants on to steadfastness, called us to labor for the glory of God and not for earthly fame or fruit, and assured us that no labor in Christ’s Name will ever be in vain. No matter how I may sometimes feel about ministerial labors, I must choose whether to walk by faith or by feelings. Faith is determined by God’s Word, not the ups and downs of my emotional experience. Walking by feelings makes my ever-changing emotional state the arbiter of truth and determiner of reality rather than the revealed Word of God. Who knows what will be true on any given day if my feelings decide it.

I did not inherit a cheerful disposition as a biological birthright, and I can’t say it was modeled particularly well in my formative years. But God has called his saints to joy, not to lives of sorrow, and so even though there must be tribulations and many tears will be shed on the way to Zion, believers have a duty to fight for joy and to deliberately delight in the things of God. When our complaints are set in the context of Scripture and the historical experience of God’s people, most are revealed to be pathetic and rather petty. I do not mean that we should be naively perky and oblivious to the real suffering in our world. It is not spiritual to laugh when we ought instead to weep. “In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

We will have tribulation in this life, but we can and should be of good cheer in the midst of it. How is this possible? By remembering and rejoicing in the fact our Savior has overcome the world. This is not naive optimism; it is Christian optimism or cheerful realism. Jesus has come and has overcome sin, death, and sorrow. That changes everything. The world is not getting worse, even if certain segments of human society are or appear to be. The world is not going to Hell in a handbasket, only the ungodly are being sent there. Jesus is keeping the world for his Church and preparing a renovation project like you have never seen. Our bodies may accumulate aches and pains, but this is only the approaching death of a decaying form that will soon be reborn and renewed in immortality. Our hope is not escape but resurrection. We do not surrender the field to the enemy; we wait for the King who comes to claim and clear the ground he has already won.

Do we really think our pains, political chaos, or public degradation are worthy of comparison with what Christ has already begun and will one day conclude? We should be realistic, yes, and not oblivious to the real suffering, sin, and sorrows that characterize our pilgrim life. But we should also be cheerful, even when troubled. Not embittered, not depressed, and certainly not fearful. I may be annoyed by my present circumstances, but by God’s grace I can and should be cheerfully annoyed and able to smile in the darkness because the morning has dawned. --JME

Staying Ahead of the Pain

Anyone who has ever had to take prescription pain medicine after surgery has probably heard the expression stay ahead of the pain. Usually this refers to taking pain medicine on a schedule, before you need it, in order to keep the pain at a manageable level. If you wait until you are hurting to take the medicine, the pain may become overwhelming, and the medicine may be unable to overcome it or take longer to do so.

During Elijah’s recent hospitalization, Kirstie and I have been reminded of God’s palliatives for the soul: Scripture, prayer, and the worship of the saints (including the preached word and sacraments). The word of God sustains us in times of trouble (Psa. 119:71, 92, 114), prayer reminds us our Father knows and cares (Php. 4:6-7; 1Pet. 5:6-7; 1Jn. 5:14-15), and the worship and fellowship of the Church reaffirms the Lord’s promises and that we are not alone in waiting and watching for His return (Psa. 122; 1Cor. 11:26; Heb. 10:19-25). Stress and trouble is always easier to bear when we avail ourselves of the means of grace. Trials are not easy, but God’s grace makes them bearable and sanctifying.

It is especially important in seasons of trial to be diligent in using God’s means of grace to sustain our souls and strengthen our faith. We can easily be distracted by the urgent concerns troubling our hearts at such times. Daily Bible reading is certainly less urgent than physical crisis. Prayer may not seem imminently practical. And so we focus more on what is pressing than on what is important. We neglect the word and prayer and the worship of the saints, and we find ourselves increasingly overwhelmed by the emotional pain of the moment.

We must learn to stay ahead of the pain, to apply God’s medicine for the soul before the distress has become urgent, before our sorrows are so great they obscure the brilliance of God’s glory shining above and around us. We must discipline ourselves before the trial comes, and even as we walk through the trial, meeting God in His word, seeking His blessing in prayer, worshiping His holy name and being reminded of what is true, what is real, what will last, and what will not. Do not wait until the pain is so great you can no longer focus on Scripture. Do not wait until you have no words left to pray. Be diligent each day to feed and nurture your soul using the means God has provided. Stay ahead of the pain, and watch God use your pain for His good purposes. –JME

In Spite of It All, They Still Sinned

“In spite of all this, they still sinned; despite his wonders, they did not believe.”
(Psalm 78:32)

Psalm 78 powerfully testifies to God’s gracious faithfulness and Israel’s stubborn perverseness. The text recounts the abundance of God’s mercy, kindness, and blessing on His people while at the same time noting the wickedness, ingratitude, and rebellion of the people. The verse quoted above largely sums up the story. God was good to the people, but in spite of His goodness, they still sinned.

Psalm 78:32 reminds me of...well, me. Israel’s story is a lot like my story. God has been good to me, so very, very good. But I still sinned. Even after coming to know Christ and being given a new heart, I still sin far too easily, far too often, in far too many ways. I look back on my life and see years and years of God’s kindness, goodness, and blessings. But I also see train-wrecked relationships, misguided zeal, anger, ingratitude, and worldly desires. All of the good parts of my story I owe to God. All of the other stuff, well, that was the part I contributed to my life-story.

Fortunately, there is good news. Israel’s story is not my story, even though similar at many points. As you look close you realize Psalm 78 is not describing shortcomings; it is describing apostasy. It is not Israel’s mistakes the psalmist is lamenting; it is her abject unbelief. I may be a mess and a long way from the kind of consistent holiness I am called to in Christ, but by the grace and promise and power of God, I remain a believer in Christ, kept through faith for salvation, and enabled to persevere by His good work (Php. 1:6; 1Pet. 1:3-5). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom. 8:1-4). Praise God my salvation depends not on the consistency of my walk with God but on the quality of His work for me (2Cor. 5:21)!

You may find yourself despairing because of your shortcomings. If you never did, chances are you do not see yourself or your sin biblically. You are not taking sin as seriously as you should. But there is hope. In Christ we do not remain broken forever. We will not always fall short in these ways. You do not have to ever feel hopeless, because Jesus saves. He came not for the righteous but for sinners. That is good news for me. God’s goodness will not be in vain in my life. There is hope in Christ. Cling to Him. Lean on Him. Never let Him go. He will bring you safely through the wilderness. Now go read Psalm 78, and pay attention to how the story ends. –JME

Eternal Comfort

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. (2 Thess. 2:16-17)

Eternal comfort. That is what God has given His children in Jesus Christ. It is “everlasting consolation” (KJV), encouragement sent from heaven to support and strengthen the saints. We pray often for God to comfort us – to help the hurting, the sick, the grieving, the suffering – but the reality is, in Christ, He already has, He already is, and He always will.

This comfort is eternal in its point of origin. God “chose us in [Christ] before the foundation of the world” (Eph. 1:4). Christ as the sacrificial Lamb “was foreknown before the foundation of the world” (1Pet. 1:20). God’s works were “finished from the foundation of the world” (Heb. 4:3), though His redemptive work had yet to be executed in time and space. God’s comfort began at the beginning. His work comforts us because it was foreknown, predestined, and prepared.

This comfort is eternal in its nature. Comfort that is material, earthly, and superficial is deceptive and, in some cases, illusory. People seek comfort in distraction, food, and friends, but none can address the substance of our suffering. God’s work in Christ comforts us at our deepest level by dealing with the source of our discomfort: sin and the curse under which this world lies (Rom. 8:18-39).

This comfort is eternal in its duration. The comfort from God found in Christ is available and effective now and will last for eternity. God does not give His children comfort insufficient for the challenges yet ahead of us, nor does He give it only to take it back. God’s comfort is eternal, because His work in Christ is eternal.

God already has, already is, and always will comfort His people in Christ, but many go on living as though they are without comfort. Anchor yourself to God’s promises. Trust in His Son. Hope in His word. His comfort is everlasting. -JME

Sorrowful...Yet Always Rejoicing

Second Corinthians may give the greatest insight to Paul’s heart of any of his letters. He is wounded by the problems in Corinth and the fact that his enemies have made inroads there (3:1-3; 12:11-13), but he is also hopeful for the church (1:14, 23-24; 13:10-14), encouraged by their repentance (7:6-9), and committed to loving and serving them no matter their attitude in return (7:2-4; 12:14-15). Paul suffered greatly for his faith and calling in Christ, yet he could affirm that though there were many sorrows, he was always rejoicing (6:10).

As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. What does that mean? Two things, at least. First, it indicates that sorrow is a real part of the Christian experience. Some people have the silly notion that Christians should never be discouraged or depressed. They should never grieve; they should never be downcast; they should never be disturbed by the pains of this world. Instead, Christians should always be peppy, upbeat, and optimistic. The secret is just to “let go and let God” take care of it all. If you feel sadness or discouragement, you simply need more faith. That sort of thinking is naïve, unbiblical, and abusive, and it ought to be biblically reproved and repented of.

Sorrow is real, especially for the Christian. If anything, believers are better able to experience the depth of pain and grief due to the brokenness and sinfulness of this world (Psa. 119:136). It is right and necessary to “weep with those who weep” (Rom. 12:15), not to deny their suffering matters. We are not more spiritual for being stoic, nor less spiritual for weeping at a friend’s grave (John 11:35). Jesus was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Isa. 53:3); those who follow him should expect to experience the same.

Second, Paul’s words indicate Christians are able to rejoice even in the midst of sorrow. “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Php. 4:4) We may not enjoy the circumstances that cause us pain. Christian joy is not a foolish denial that evil and pain are real. But no matter what happens: God is still real, Jesus is still Lord, and what he has performed and promised will stand. We rejoice in the Lord, even when circumstances preclude our rejoicing in anything else. Moreover, even when things are good we locate our joy in the grace of God “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1Tim. 6:17). In good times and in bad, we rejoice in who God is, what Christ has done, and what he has promised yet to do. Even though we endure tribulation in this world, in Christ we have joy and peace (John 16:33; cf. Rom. 5:3-5).

Some Christians seem to walk an easier path, while others seem to abide in the valley of tears. But both are enabled by grace and the indwelling Holy Spirit to be as those “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” We ought to weep for the brokenness of this world, for the depravity of humankind, for the horror of human suffering, and for the eternal death that waits for many. But never allow the evil, sorrow, and pain of this life to rob you of God’s precious gift of joy in Christ. Embrace sorrow; do not deny it. But do not abandon yourself to the pain. Even as you sorrow, always rejoice, because “the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us” (Rom. 8:18). -JME