Virtually all who have been used of God down history to do mighty things had one infirmity or the other. Infirmity here refers to any form of feebleness of mind and body or any other limitation. How did these men and women wound up doing mighty things? It was because God compensated for their inadequacies.
However, we know according to scriptures that the day will eventually come when the war will truly be over. Jesus the Prince of Peace will announce the cessation of all armed conflicts among nations. It is then that our text will find literal fulfillment.
Being the Almighty with unlimited power and resources, it is within reason to say that He had all that was necessary to create everything in a single day; but He laid out His work over a period of time; achieving one bit at a time. By that He shows us the path to follow in our quest for achievement and greatness.
What is it about joy and rejoicing to warrant such repeated emphasis? It is because joy is a spiritual anti-depressant. Yesterday, we established that depression is not restricted to any particular socio-economic class; it is an all-pervasive problem, and statistics will prove this.
The moment we settle our eternal destiny in Christ, having much or little, being famous or not so famous will be of secondary importance. The days we live in are full of pressures; no one can truly bear up without constantly looking up to Jesus for supply of grace.
These “helpers of your joy” are the people we may call merchants of joy; and their efforts must be highly priced. They could be gospel Ministers who have oversight over us; or it could be people with whom we share affinity in the house of God. They help us to see the big picture and the hope that lies ahead.
Our rejoicing in the midst of trouble should stem from two considerations. Firstly, as we hinted earlier, Jesus won a victory which has effect on all who put their trust in Him for salvation. Secondly, we can rejoice in difficult moments because we know they will not last forever. This consideration made Paul write to the Romans that they should rejoice in hope (Romans 12:15).
Why do so many people go through life frustrated and unhappy? Because they seek for joy from material things. When you shift your focus to the Lord, you will discover that nothing can compare with the joy of His presence.
The world’s type of peace is weak and futile. It is significant also to note that the first thing which Jesus offered after His resurrection was peace. We can therefore affirm that for children of God, peace is a gift.
The ability to stick to something for as long as may be necessary is the bottom line for success. If you fail, as you would most likely do, conduct a bit of research to determine the cause of your failure. Doing this would have taught you a vital lesson on how not to do it another time.
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