A Refuge of Joy in Times of Trouble

By:  Dale Weckbacher

Text:  Joel 3:1-16

Joel 3:16

The Lord roars from Zion,
    and utters his voice from Jerusalem,
    and the heavens and the earth quake.
But the Lord is a refuge to his people,
    a stronghold to the people of Israel.

(ESV)

James 1:2 tells us to have joy when trials come upon us.  This verse can be troubling, especially for anyone facing a major trial in their life.  James 1:3-4 goes on to tell us that these trials of our faith produce strong and steadfast faith, but it is still difficult to think of having joy while in the middle of a trial.  Part of the issue with this verse is our equating joy with happiness leading to a belief this verse is telling us to be happy and not sad during a trial.  However, the opposite of joy is not sadness but hopelessness, so this verse is not telling us to be happy and not sad in a trial but instead to not lose hope.  Therefore, James 1:2 is reminding us to place our hope in God during a trial and have joy in the Lord and not hopeless despair. 

The nation of Israel has just suffered a devastating loss due to an attack of locusts.  This great loss could lead to the nation totally abandoning God viewing faith in God as something hopeless but God wants them to have hope and inspires Job to proclaim the prophecy of Joel 3:1-16.  Enemies continue to surround Israel today, so the promise of God bringing judgment upon these enemies still brings comfort.  When facing a trial, it is important for the people of God to,

1)      Read and meditate on the Word of God (Joshua 1:8) – Today, the people of God have something Israel did not have in Joel’s time, easy access to the Word of God.  However, if God’s people wallow in the misery of the trial and do not open the Bible to read and meditate on the promises of God, they will go down the path of despair and hopelessness.  Times of trial are dark times needing light, the light of God’s Word so we can have direction through the trial (Psalm 119:105). 

2)      Repent of any sin in our lives (Isaiah 1:27; Ezekiel 14:6; 18:30; Matthew 3:8)  – Everyone Reading this and the one writing it has sinned and missed the mark with God.  The path back to the restoration of one’s connection with God was constructed through the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ (Romans 10:9-10).  However, even the best road us useless unless one gets on the road.  The onramp to the path of reconciliation with God is repentance.  Through repentance, we receive redemption with God, not by justice but by righteousness (Isaiah 1:27; Ezekiel 18:30).  Through repentance, we turn from idols or anything in our lives that have more importance than God (Ezekiel 14:6).  By taking the onramp of repentance, we can lead fruitful lives (Matthew 3:8; Galatians 5:22-23).  God promised to restore what the locust had destroyed in Israel but only as they took the onramp of repentance (Joel 2:25).  If sin is the source of trials in our lives, we must repent and experience restoration of our connection with God. 

3)      Refocus on who God is and what He has done for us (Psalm 66:5-7; John 1:1-18; 1 John 3:1) – When facing a trial we can either dwell on the trial and become bitter or turn to God remembering who He is and what He has done.  To keep from going into hopelessness and despair it is important to refocus on God.  For the Israelites, the common memory of who God is and what He has is the parting of the Red Sea (Psalm 66:5-7).  For Christians, it is focusing on the fact that God came to fallen humanity in the flesh and took upon himself the death penalty for their sins (John 1:14; Romans 5:8).  In a trial, it is also important to focus on the fact that we are called the children of God (1 John 3:1).

4)      Rejoice in the knowledge we are sons and daughters of God and that He has our best interests at heart (Jeremiah 29:11) – From the focus on becoming a child of God because of what Jesus has done, we can have assurance that the trial we find ourselves in is part of God’s plan and not going to destroy us (Jeremiah 29:11). 

Trials do not bring happiness and often bring sadness.  However, for the child of God, there can still be joy as there is still hope in knowing God remains in control of our lives and is allowing this trial to produce stronger faith (James 1:3-4).  However, to become a child of God and have this hope, we must accept the gift of God’s grace by making Jesus our savior.  If you have never done this, I encourage you to pray with me now.

Dear Lord Jesus, I know I have sinned (Romans 3:23) and know that the penalty for my sin is death (Romans 6:23).  I ask you to forgive me of my sin and cleanse me as you promise in your Word (1 John 1:9).  I believe you died, spent three days in the grave, and resurrected from the dead and now declare you Lord of my life.

Jesus reminds us that trials will come into our lives but goes on to remind us that He has overcome the world (John 16:25).  As children of God we may experience sadness and a lack of happiness due to trials in our lives but this does not need to rob us of our joy for our joy is in the Lord and what he has done for us.  May God bless all reading this.