Every time we, as a family, go on a trip, there is nothing quite like coming home to our dog, Kona — our large poodle.
Walking through the door is like a grand homecoming! We are greeted with wiggles, squeals, barks, jumps for joy, tail wags…the whole nine yards! She just can’t believe that we walked through the door and are finally back (who knows how long a few days feels in a dog’s mind).
But every time we come home, it feels good to be greeted by Kona who is so full of joy.
This type of joy is what I thought of when we read about having joy in the midst of trials. 1 Peter 1:6 tells us, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” (NLT)
At first glance, I wouldn’t have taken this word for gladness or joy to mean what Pastor Jason communicated the original Greek meaning to be: greatly rejoice, jumping for joy, full of happiness and excitement.
When I picture “joy” in a trial, I actually tone it down a little in my mind…
Like, joy that is really just miserable but with a side of hope.
But this word actually means pure, true…jumping-like-Kona-joy.
So that made me wonder a little further…Lord, how can I actually be like this with you when the trial I’m facing is so incredibly sad, hard, and miserable? What does it mean to have joy like this?
I think Pastor Jason did a wonderful job of explaining why we should have joy even in the hardest of circumstances. As believers, our joy runs deep. It goes beyond the circumstances to the eternal, and remembers Whose we are, and where we are headed.
On paper, I can understand all of that…but what does it look like to live it out?
I have a friend who is walking through an incredibly hard trial at this very moment. I won’t get into the details, but one thing I have observed — no matter what life throws at her…I see joy.
She bought a new bible study to read the other day and texted me a picture saying, “It’s here!!!”
She took her kids to the beach and I know she laughed and smiled at them, despite everything going on (it’s just who she is).
She will send me pictures of a tree or a flower that God put right in her path just to show her He loves her. She stops to admire the sunset.
Often times we sit over coffee and talk about how we get impatient with God, and how He lovingly brings us back. She says things like, “He never gives up on me!”, with a twinkle in her eye.
In her I see joy…it’s unmistakable.
The truth is, friendship that displays joy like this is contagious. It makes you want to smile at how God never gives up on you; to look up at those beautiful flowers, and enjoy the here and now as we wait for eternity.
My friend is waiting for restoration, for God to come in and save, and she is absolutely excited for heaven…but she also chooses to smile and have joy in the here and now.
I’m inspired by her, and it reminds me to have that contagious joy with others as well. We have a Father who loves us, who is working through us, and who promises us a seat at His table. So dearest friend, let’s rejoice!
Walking through the door is like a grand homecoming! We are greeted with wiggles, squeals, barks, jumps for joy, tail wags…the whole nine yards! She just can’t believe that we walked through the door and are finally back (who knows how long a few days feels in a dog’s mind).
But every time we come home, it feels good to be greeted by Kona who is so full of joy.
This type of joy is what I thought of when we read about having joy in the midst of trials. 1 Peter 1:6 tells us, “So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you have to endure many trials for a little while.” (NLT)
At first glance, I wouldn’t have taken this word for gladness or joy to mean what Pastor Jason communicated the original Greek meaning to be: greatly rejoice, jumping for joy, full of happiness and excitement.
When I picture “joy” in a trial, I actually tone it down a little in my mind…
Like, joy that is really just miserable but with a side of hope.
But this word actually means pure, true…jumping-like-Kona-joy.
So that made me wonder a little further…Lord, how can I actually be like this with you when the trial I’m facing is so incredibly sad, hard, and miserable? What does it mean to have joy like this?
I think Pastor Jason did a wonderful job of explaining why we should have joy even in the hardest of circumstances. As believers, our joy runs deep. It goes beyond the circumstances to the eternal, and remembers Whose we are, and where we are headed.
On paper, I can understand all of that…but what does it look like to live it out?
I have a friend who is walking through an incredibly hard trial at this very moment. I won’t get into the details, but one thing I have observed — no matter what life throws at her…I see joy.
She bought a new bible study to read the other day and texted me a picture saying, “It’s here!!!”
She took her kids to the beach and I know she laughed and smiled at them, despite everything going on (it’s just who she is).
She will send me pictures of a tree or a flower that God put right in her path just to show her He loves her. She stops to admire the sunset.
Often times we sit over coffee and talk about how we get impatient with God, and how He lovingly brings us back. She says things like, “He never gives up on me!”, with a twinkle in her eye.
In her I see joy…it’s unmistakable.
The truth is, friendship that displays joy like this is contagious. It makes you want to smile at how God never gives up on you; to look up at those beautiful flowers, and enjoy the here and now as we wait for eternity.
My friend is waiting for restoration, for God to come in and save, and she is absolutely excited for heaven…but she also chooses to smile and have joy in the here and now.
I’m inspired by her, and it reminds me to have that contagious joy with others as well. We have a Father who loves us, who is working through us, and who promises us a seat at His table. So dearest friend, let’s rejoice!
Erika Pizzo
Erika is an author of various books on the topics of faith, mental health, and victory in Christ. Erika lives with her husband, daughter, son, and their fluffy poodle in sunny Southern California. Her two favorite things are a visit to the beach and a chai latte in hand.