“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Have you lost your joy? Have things gotten hard? Has your heart gotten hard?
This verse tells that God is a God of hope. Hope is His specialty! Think about it. Starting with Adam’s sin, God immediately offered hope as He covered their sin and nakedness with the sacrifice of an animal, then He promised a Messiah that would remove their sin forever. What hope!
We have hope because He is with us each day, as well as hope for eternity. We have hope because He gives us companions today, as well as hope that we’ll see our dead loved ones again. We have hope that all things will work out for our good and that He will never give us more that we can handle.
As we meditate on the hope God has given us, He begins to fill our hearts with joy and peace.
When we’ve started to lose our minds over our circumstances, trusting in the God of hope can turn our tears to laughter – yes, even if the circumstances haven’t changed at all.
When we’ve started to lose our minds with worry, trusting in the God of hope can chase fear away and flood us with peace – yes, even though others won’t be able to explain the sudden change in us.
The best thing is that joy and peace cause us to “overflow with hope” ourselves. We become like God, because the Spirit of God moves in mighty power in our lives.
So I have to ask myself, “What could cause the Spirit’s power to stop flowing in my life?”
Two kinds of sin cause the Spirit of God to be “quenched” and “grieved,” so that we won’t overflow with hope anymore.
Fear, the First Joy Stealer
“Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19, KJV).
Fear steals our joy because it tells God that we don’t trust Him. We think that if we were arranging our circumstances, we could do a better job than He does.
Of course, we really are powerless to control anything. Meanwhile, we lose sleep, trying to run the universe. Wham! There goes our joy!
On the other hand, if we really do trust that the circumstances of my life are “the will of God concerning you,” it will be evidenced by the following:
- Rejoicing “evermore.” I like this King James word, because it shows that I will rejoice, then I’ll rejoice a little more, then even more, and ever more and more.
- Praying “without ceasing.” I think this means that as the doubtful thoughts start to creep back in, I immediately take my anxieties to the throne of God. I’m only human, so I’ll probably have to do this “without ceasing.”
- Give thanks in everything. It’s an abundant cycle, where I pray, then I give God thanks for what I’m trusting Him to do, rejoicing because He is trustworthy. Then I pray again, over and over.
A passage of Scripture that has been helpful to me is this one:
“Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,
though the olive crop fails
and the fields produce no food,
though there are no sheep in the pen
and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to go on the heights” (Habakkuk 3:17-19).
Anger, the Other Joy Stealer
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:29-32).
How easy it is for us moms to let our tongues control us! However, when angry words rule, the Holy Spirit is grieved and stops filling us with joy.
These verses tell us that only wholesome talk should come out of our mouths. This is defined as “only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
What a great guideline this is! Before I open my mouth, I need to ask if my words are “helpful” to others.
As I am unselfish, thinking of the needs of others before my own, I am in effect telling God that I know He can take care of my own needs, so I am therefore free to care for others.
I easily get upset at the bad behavior of others. I see their evil, and I am filled with bitterness, maybe because of the wrong they’ve done to me personally. My heart is filled with rage, then anger spills out of me. I start to fight and slander, and I plot evil against them.
Just as with fear, when I am angry I am telling God that I am more fit than He to run the universe!
So I fume and fuss, and wham! My joy is gone!
The Psalmist had much the same problem. I can relate to what he was feeling in the following:
“But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.
They are free from the burdens common to man;
they are not plagued by human ills.
Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
From their callous hearts comes iniquity;
the evil conceits of their minds know no limits.
They scoff, and speak with malice;
in their arrogance they threaten oppression.
Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.
They say, ‘How can God know?
Does the Most High have knowledge?’
This is what the wicked are like—
always carefree, they increase in wealth.
Surely in vain have I kept my heart pure;
in vain have I washed my hands in innocence.
All day long I have been plagued;
I have been punished every morning.
If I had said, ‘I will speak thus,’
I would have betrayed your children.
When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me…” (Psalm 73:2-16).
Do you see the end result of his anger? “It was oppressive to me.” This heavy oppression robs us of our joy, our energy, and even our desire to live. “All day long I have been plagued,” the Psalmist moaned. “I have been punished every morning.”
Thankfully, the Psalmist found a way to get a new perspective, and we can, too!
“When I tried to understand all this,
it was oppressive to me
till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
As a dream when one awakes,
so when you arise, O Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you;
you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds” (Psalm 73:16-28).
As soon as the Psalmist put his focus back on God – and off people – God immediately strengthened his heart again. His joy returned, so much so that he couldn’t help but brag of God’s deeds to anyone who would listen.
Joy returned.
If you’ve lost your joy this homeschooling year, check for these two heart sins.
- Are you afraid? Take your worries to God, then rejoice in Him, thanking Him for your circumstances.
- Are you angry? Take the sins of others to God, then draw near to God and allow Him to take care of others in His own timing.
Let’s repeat our verse one more time:
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13).
Anne,
Thank you, great article. I am print it it out to re-read and pray over when I have a break at our homeshcool co-op today.
There is one thing however, that I must differ with you on. At the beginning of the article you say “We have hope that …He will never give us more that we can handle.” I do not see anywhere is scripture that He tells us this. The verse that is usually used to back up that statement is 1 Cor. 10:13. But is this verse it says no temptation is given us but such as common to man and with the temptation he provides a way out that we can bear it: “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” 1 Cor. 10:13.
No where is scripture do I see a place that says He will not give us more than we can handle – no temptation beyond what we can bear yes, but not a blanket statement that he won’t give us more than we can handle. Okay, admittedly he have hit one of my pet peeves here, but it is something to ponder.
You see I think He DOES give us more than we can handle. It is at those times that we are beyond what we are able to handle, what we are able to do, beyond ourselves and our abilities, that we are reminded of our desperate need for Him and that we can’t live this life on our own power, but we desperately need to rely on the power of HIS Holy Spirit in us to be able to make it. When we are at the end of ourselves and say “Lord, I can’t do this on my own, I need You” or “Lord, I have nothing left, I can’t make it thru this day without you” or “Lord HELP! Give me strength, I can’t do this” that we are in a place of vulnerability in which we must rely on Him completely, and that is where he wants us to be – and where we see His great and mighty power at work in us.
Right know there is more in my life than I can handle on my own. Life has been one giant struggle on so many fronts for so many years. I am sick and weak and worn out and so is my dear hubbie. We could never handle what life has thrown us in the past 10 years without the Lord giving us the strength to make it thru the day. We have been told that with all that has happened to us we should put our kids in public school, yep, that would be easier. But God has not called us to an easy life. He has told us “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
What he has called us to is obedience and complete reliance on Him. I could never live this life without His strength. It is in my weakness that He is strong: “And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” 2 Cor. 12:9
So I believe God HAS given us more than we can handle. I am so very weak, but praise God HE is STRONG!
Have a blessed weekend!
Sherri
Sherri,
Thank you for this clarification. I agree with you. He will, with every testing, provide a way of escape — and I firmly believe that this way of escape is Himself. He Himself is the only way we can “escape.”
I’m thinking of when Abraham offered up Isaac, his only son. He told his son, “My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering” (Genesis 22:8, KJV). As we know, His provision of a lamb really was “himself” when later, God came as a man and offered the ultimate sacrifice for our sins.
“Every test that you have experienced is the kind that normally comes to people. But God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the time you are put to the test, HE WILL GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE IT, and so provide you with a way out” (1 Corinthians 10:13, Good News Bible).
You’re right. He seems to delight in placing us into situations that ARE beyond our own limited strength. My mind is just running with all the examples, and I thank you for bringing this to our attention. What a great pet peeve to have! I’m so glad you shared.
And I’m thankful for the reminder that our mighty God is always our refuge, not our money or our health or our own wisdom or talents. Yet He is a mighty God that will prove Himself strong on our behalf.
Hugs,
~Anne
Anne, thank you for this article. It was a great encouragement for me. I have been feeling fear and anger because of health problems and very little income coming in. I will be meditating on these verses as I travel to a doctor’s appointment today, and I’ll read this again later!
Amen!
As awful as it is, I’m always glad when other women admit their struggles with plotting evil against people. Knowing I am fighting alongside sisters helps me to handle my own weakness better. =0) It’s worst when it’s someone whose behavior affects my kids, directly or indirectly. The temptation to step into God’s place and “give them what they’re asking for” – and then some, usually, just to make sure they never do it again – is very intense. Thank God for the Body of Christ and thank Him again for His mercy!