Every true Christian, those who are anchored in Christ by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit, always has something to confidently rejoice in. The chief joy of those who are born again by the sanctification of the Spirit, to obedience, and by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus, will arise from trials by everything spiritual and heavenly. Joy is stirred up by meditating on God’s gifts in our lives and in His stored up treasures in heaven, which are all blessings of unfathomable value. The granting of them is promised and will be given in the Lord’s perfect timing.
Christians experience enormous heaviness through a myriad of temptations. All sorts of adversities come in the form of temptations and trials! They are various in their intention and every single one of them has the sole goal to weaken and distract the Christian from God’s glory, to keep the child of God in heaviness and far from rejoicing in their predetermined and holy inheritance: life, righteousness, peace, perfection, God’s presence, Christ’s glorious companionship, rewards and more.
Affiliations and sorrows are but for a season and the duration does nothing to lessen the heaviness of it. This heaviness is often necessary to the Christian’s good. The trial of faith is for examination, not destruction. It is for maturation, and, ultimately, to promote praise, honor, and glory in our Lord, in the work He is doing in and through us, and in this world, and in the things to come. In standing firm against opposition, rejoicing rather than grumbling, we are given the opportunity to exercise our faith. This allows for spiritual growth and results in deeper worship of God. When the trials of life are over, we take with us into eternity, perfected praise, honor, and glory for our Father in heaven.
God does not afflict His chosen people willingly, but acts with judgment, in proportion to their needs. These troubles that are meant to lie heavy, never approach with such a weight, unless we have the need for it; it leaves once the need is met by God’s mercy and grace.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to praise, honor, and glory in God. We can greatly rejoice, be exceedingly glad and exuberantly jubilant in all circumstances of life. Our joy is not based on changing, temporal circumstances, we have this supernatural joy because it is rooted in Christ and in the unchanging, eternal relationship we have with God.
*Written with the help of 1 Peter 1, Matthew Henry’s Commentary, and the MacArthur Study Bible and inspired by Grace Biblical Counseling Ministry.
Our Heavenly Prize 