Do you expect that if you live right, God will remove your troubles, sorrow, and pain? We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking that suffering is always because of sin, and blessings are always because you’re obeying God. But just because you did the right thing does not mean you will avoid suffering. Romans 15:13 teaches us that we can be filled with peace and joy through the hope found in God’s salvation. What would you give for a life full to the brim of peace and joy?
The Bible describes peace in three ways. Spiritual peace, or peace with God, is described as the result of justification (Rom. 5:1). Emotional peace, a comfort within us, is a blessing that comes from being a child of God (Col. 3:15; Phil. 4:7; cf. Eph. 1:3). Relational peace with others is something we can learn how to promote and preserve using the principles of the scriptures (Rom. 12:18).
Joy is often used synonymously with happiness, but a distinction needs to be made. Happiness is based on circumstances, whereas joy can be experienced whether things are going well or poorly at the current moment. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (Ps. 30:5). Joy cannot be the opposite of pain, trouble, or sorrow according to Jesus’ example (Heb. 12:2). Instead, joy is delight in the good that can exist alongside the bad (Rom. 8:28). If you have lost a loved one you can be full of joy that they lived a full Christian life while being grieved at the same time because of the loss.
You can notice several culprits that steal your peace and joy. Guilt, stress, fear, worry, and weariness are all related and can intermingle to take away joy and peace. However, the Bible gives you the answers to deal with these problems. If you are struggling with guilt, you can turn to the law of God (Ps. 119:165-167). Obeying the gospel is the solution to your guilt (Acts 2:37-38).
After being added to the Kingdom of God, you must stay the course so you don’t create new reasons to feel guilty (Acts 2:47; Ps. 85:8; 1 John 1:7-9). Too many turn to alcohol, drugs, materialistic impulse purchases, sex, or power to try to self-medicate their guilt away when God’s solution is full of peace and joy.
If stress is robbing you of peace and joy turn to the Refuge of the soul (Ps. 91:1-4, 14-16). If fear and anxiety are eating away at you remember that God was with David, He will be with you too (Ps. 3:1-8). Weariness often requires the blessings of rest and nourishment that God provides us all as He did Elijah (1 Kings 19; cf. Matt. 11:28). Like Elijah, you should not forget to get back to the work God has set for us once we have rested.
God has not promised to remove all difficulties from the life of the Christian, but He will be with you (Matt. 28:18-20). Truly there are many blessings that come from following God. If you have a lack of peace and joy in your life, it doesn’t necessarily mean you are an unfaithful Christian. It does mean that your focus needs to be redirected to the Savior and the healing He offers through salvation.
-Ross Haffner