Joy In Believing

The life of a believer is one filled with great joy. After all we are told the fruit of the work of the Holy Spirit includes joy, and the joy of the Lord is our strength.

Galatians 5:22–23 (ESV) — 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Nehemiah 8:10 (ESV) — 10 Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

The real test of finding joy is found in 1Peter when in chapter one, Peter describes the scene in which we believe in our Lord Jesus Christ, despite not seeing Him physically, yet we find inexpressible joy. Consider the words and place yourself in that mindset of just enjoying the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ so much that although you do not see Him physically, yet through the word and the ministry of the Holy Spirit, you have a sense of Him, and it brings joy.

1 Peter 1:8–9 (ESV) — 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Even better, is the context which describes the great benefits from God in drawing us to Himself, in bringing us new life through the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the glorious inheritance that is reserved for us as we are preserved for the enjoyment of it. But wait! This wonderful picture seems to be interrupted when he says, “if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials.” If necessary? He goes on to explain that the genuineness of your faith is so precious that God allows it to be tried in the fire that your faith might result in the praise and glory of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 1:3–7 (ESV) — 3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

That being the context of experiencing joy in believing makes it all the more special. Consider the explanation of the trying of your faith – but as you trust Him and seek to find Him in the midst of the trial, so you find Him to be all you need when He is all you have. He will never let you down. And the result: joy in believing!

Thomas experienced a trying of his faith when he failed to be present at the first appearance of the Lord Jesus Christ and expressed great doubt when his brother disciples talked of the first meeting. In fact, he proclaimed he would not believe unless he could place his fingers in the nail prints in his hands and in Jesus’ side. When Jesus appeared, Thomas was really moved and exclaimed, “my Lord and my God.” To which Jesus simply said”

John 20:29 (ESV) — 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

Thomas found joy in believing, but Jesus used it to teach us that our believing through which we find joy is not based upon physical evidence but upon what God does in our heart.

Romans 8:24–25 (ESV) — 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

Notice how this explains the joy in believing rather than having to see hard evidence. Hope in this instance is believing in something that is true, just not yet or just not able to see it in its fullness yet. Isn’t that what the original text concluded?

It was John who outran Peter to the empty tomb of the Lord Jesus Christ who said that he believed. But it was the same John who wrote about relying upon the word of God when it comes to believing what the end is like. It may not appear what we will be, but we know that when we see Him, we will be like Him.

John 20:8–10 (ESV) — 8 Then the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9 for as yet they did not understand the Scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10 Then the disciples went back to their homes.

1 John 3:2 (ESV) — 2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.

You might have heard that “seeing is believing.” Believing even what you don’t see is the spark of great joy because joy comes from the work of God in your heart. This work of God is called faith, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom as He sets our hearts free to experience joy in believing.

Godspeed,

Bob Brubaker, Pastor

Christ Community Presbyterian Church

Clearwater, FL