His Joy... My Strength - a podcast by David K Payne

“Joy is Strength” - Mother Teresa

As I consider the story of Jesus and the cross, my mind is filled with many messages and songs that celebrate what the Christian message proclaims was done for mankind through the suffering of Christ. I also remember a message I preached years ago speaking about a scripture that declares the joy of the Lord is our strength. As with many scriptures, people read past them or learn to quote them and even preach about them without ever genuinely considering the full possibilities of what the scripture could be saying.

As a Christian, I believe all scripture to be a continual revelation of who Jesus is and what all he made available to me. The writer of Hebrews speaks specifically of the time when Jesus hung upon a cross and states that it was the joy of what lay before Christ that kept him and gave him the strength to endure such punishment and torment. A study of what Jesus came to do I believe reveals that his primary mission was to set mankind right with God and put each of us at peace in our lives regardless of our struggles. With that thought in mind, I believe that the joy of the Lord was what he saw regarding the impact his suffering and death would have on mankind.

You can possibly relate to times you have faced opposition and struggled to accomplish a project, task or challenge that you knew would bring members of your family great joy, pleasure, and success. As parents, we drive through the night to get our children to a favorite vacation spot. We work and exert great effort to ensure our families have places to live and food on their table. I can look at the some of the most grueling moments in my life and remember it was the well being of my children and grandchildren that caused me to endure specific painful experiences, knowing that if I made it through those times if would remove pain and give an opportunity for life to those I love.

I believe with all my heart that the joy in Jesus’ greatest hour of suffering was his realization that what he was enduring would make it possible for all to have peace in their hearts despite our struggles. I believe he saw how the message of the cross would inspire untold millions of people not to give up, get back up again, believe they can do all things and refuse to give into personal weakness and defeat. I believe he saw all of mankind going from being separated from God and defeated to being free and in right relationship with God. I believe he saw our success, healing, righteousness, confidence, deliverance, peace, joy, happiness, and our faith and it gave him the courage to stay on the cross even until death.

Remember that his joy is your strength and never allow anyone to cause you to doubt what he makes possible for your life.

Just Be

David

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