Winds Of Adversity Ring The Chimes

Recently, a granddaughter gave us wind chimes, which we promptly hung from a beam in our open-air patio. They ring a pleasant sound, not with a melody you could sing, but a sweet, comforting, harmonious sound. They are near our bedroom window, so I can even hear them at night in my waking moments. But if there is no wind blowing, there is no sound of chimes. It takes wind to make them sound. The stronger the wind, the greater the music.

Then it hit me. Our most excellent opportunity to make the music of Christian joy is when the winds of adversity blow through our lives.

It is easy to be happy, smiley, and laughing when all is calm in our lives: no sickness, no job problems, all bills paid, the children are behaving, and no storms are attacking our house. Both Christians and non-Christians will react similarly when everything is going well.

But the time to shine for Jesus is when you experience His joy during trials.

There is a difference between being happy and being joyful. Someone has said, “Happiness is a reaction to someTHING great.   Joy is the product of someONE great.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 demonstrates well that joy has nothing to do with prosperity or a good situation in life. “Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: YET I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Job lost his livelihood, his children, and then his health within just a few days. We might be inclined to sympathize and agree with Job’s wife when she said to him, “Curse God and die.”  After all, she had lost everything dear to her within a few short days. How would you feel if you lost your job or business, and all your children? How could Job possibly say, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in Him” (Job 13:15). Job knew and trusted someone great.

After the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem in the book of Nehemiah, an assembly gathered to hear the reading of the law. Then Nehemiah, Ezra, and the Levites reminded the people, ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). Their joy was “in the Lord.”

Paul, anticipating his possible execution, said, “If I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy and rejoice with you all.” (Philippians 2:17). Later, in Philippians 4:4, he exhorted, “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say Rejoice.” Earlier, he had written the Thessalonian Christians, giving the brief command, “Rejoice evermore.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

How could Paul have that attitude and instruct other believers to rejoice with him? He stated confidently, “Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Philippians 2:20-21). His rejoicing was not in circumstances, but “in Christ.”

Peter taught in the same way. “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” (1 Peter 1:7-9) These early believers experienced joy while going through severe trials.

When we go through trials, we know God is dealing with us. Psalm 119:71 states,  “It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.”  God allows, or sends, trials in our lives so we can learn His Word and know Him better. Because we know this, we can rejoice as we experience God’s working in our lives.

Jesus taught his disciples about joy. “If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.”  (John 15:10-11). If you want to experience complete joy, obedience to God’s Word is essential.

Jesus not only taught joy, but he lived it to the ultimate. “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2) Joy doesn’t mean the absence of suffering. Just as Jesus focused on the joy set before Him and endured, we are to look and focus on Jesus in every situation of life.

How do I experience the joy of the Lord?

1. First, if you are not saved, you need to settle that now and trust Christ as Savior.
2. As a born-again Christian, submit your life to Christ to trust and obey Him.
3. Separate yourself from the pursuit of worldly and materialistic goals. Focus on Christ. When you put Christ first, He will supply your needs. (Matthew 6:31-34).
4. Study, meditate, and memorize the Word of God. Saturate your mind with His Word. “Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.” (Psalm 37:4). “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” (Psalm 119:11).
5. Be diligent to grow in the Lord and develop Christlikeness. “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the LORD.” (2 Corinthians 3:18). “If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.” (John 15:7)

Let Christ fill you with His joy!