{"id":6166,"date":"2024-07-26T11:06:08","date_gmt":"2024-07-26T15:06:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6166"},"modified":"2025-06-03T12:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-03T16:55:35","slug":"yet-will-i-rejoice-in-the-lord-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/?p=6166","title":{"rendered":"(In the Moments) Yet will I Rejoice in the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wrightsville beach. One of our favorite places to get away and replenish. The warmth of the sun, the cool breeze of the mornings, the constant rhythmic sound of the surf, the expanse of the ocean against the light blue horizon. Delightful. A small butterfly lands on my bride\u2019s finger, a kiss from her Father in a moment when love seems hidden.<\/p>\n

For most of my life, I\u2019ve seen problems as negative. However, I\u2019m learning a new perspective.<\/p>\n

James tells us to, \u201ccount it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds in trials,\u201d <\/span>[1] but these verses, and others like it, are hard to get my heart around. Trials, hardships and problems don\u2019t seem to correlate with joy.<\/p>\n

In the time of Habakkuk, the Lord brought forth the Chaldeans, mounted on horses faster than leopards; horsemen intent on violence, descending like eagles to consume. [2] Yet, He bestowed strength upon Habakkuk, lifting him to elevated places beyond the conflict. From this vantage point of divine insight, he proclaimed his resolve to find joy in the Lord, regardless of circumstances.<\/p>\n

Though the fig tree should not blossom,<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>nor fruit be on the vines,<\/em> the produce of the olive fail and<\/em>\u00a0the fields yield no food,<\/em> the flock be cut off from the fold<\/em> and<\/em> there be no herd in the stalls, <\/em>Y<\/em>et I will rejoice in the <\/em>Lord<\/em>;<\/em> I<\/em> will take joy in the God of my salvation.<\/em> \u00a0<\/sup><\/em><\/strong>God<\/em>, the Lord, is my strength;<\/em> H<\/em>e makes my feet like the deer’s;<\/em> H<\/em>e makes me tread on my high places.\u00a0 <\/em>(Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

This is the perspective we all need in the midst of troubles we know will come. On the night before he died, Jesus said, \u201cIn the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world\u201d (John 16:33b NASB).<\/strong><\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

God has used some of our recent difficulties to teach me to cling desperately to Him. In each hardship, I’m discovering more of Him. l haven’t liked these troubles, but I’m learning that Joy can sustain me, if I invite Him in.<\/p>\n

On the ride to the beach, we listened to a message from Graham Cooke [3] called the Language of Heaven. Cooke mentions that with every problem there are built in opportunities to experience God more fully. He says we should ask the question \u2013 What aspect of God can I realize now that I couldn\u2019t have without this situation? He mentions that Joy always accompanies our experiences with God; the Lord is fullness Joy. [4] Cooke challenges us to begin and end each day with celebration.<\/p>\n

I want to live my life this way, like Habakkuk, always looking to the Lord for my strength. I want to rejoice in the Lord always, even in situations which can be like nightmares. I want to walk with Him on the high places of His eternal perspective, orienting my life around a story which is far more important than my pleasant circumstances.<\/p>\n

God is at work for our good. When we read Romans 8:28 and 29<\/em><\/strong><\/span>, we get a glimpse of His measure of good. It’s not just peaceful easy feelings. Our good is to be conformed into the image of Christ.\u00a028\u00a0<\/sup>And we know that\u00a0[a<\/a>]<\/sup>God causes\u00a0all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are\u00a0called according to\u00a0His\u00a0purpose.<\/span>\u00a029\u00a0<\/sup>For those whom He\u00a0foreknew, He also\u00a0predestined\u00a0to become\u00a0conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the\u00a0firstborn among many brethren;<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Being conformed into something can be painful, yet God is dependable. He is actively working to liberate us, and He will not cease His work within us. His love for us is too great to allow our happiness to be dependent on the circumstances of our lives.<\/p>\n

Challenge<\/span><\/h3>\n

Can you say along with Habakkuk, “yet will I rejoice in the Lord?”<\/p>\n

At this moment, in your present story, what comes before the “yet”?<\/p>\n

Spend a few minutes documenting what has been particularly hard lately. When you’re done write out a “yet will I rejoice in You” prayer to your Father. This act is choosing joy and inviting the God of all comfort [5] into whatever you’re going through.<\/p>\n

Prayer<\/span><\/h3>\n

Lord, right now I celebrate You. In the midst of very hard situations which linger, I seek You. You\u2019re teaching me that Your love completes me. Being loved by you is my identity. You are all I need, my Peace, my Hope, my Joy. Please teach me to look at each new problem as an opportunity to be \u201cupgraded” [6] into a deeper experience with You. I know, in Your sovereignty, You will provide “opportunities” for me to depend on You more; You’ve entrusted them to me. Please help me see all of life, especially the hard times, from Your viewpoint and trust in Your greater good for me.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n

I love you dearly.<\/p>\n

Amen<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>[1] James 1:2<\/p>\n

[2] Habakkuk 1:6-9<\/p>\n

[3] Graham Cooke, The Language of Heaven – https:\/\/youtu.be\/mi6nZA2wUqo<\/p>\n

[4] Psalm 16:11b<\/p>\n

[5] II Corinthians 1:3-7<\/p>\n

[6] Word used by Graham Cooke.<\/p>\n

Other posts in our series<\/span> In The Moments<\/strong>:<\/span><\/p>\n

As Sea Gulls Fly<\/a><\/p>\n

The Gift of Presence<\/a><\/p>\n

It is Finished<\/a><\/p>\n

Behold the Moments<\/a><\/p>\n

Tranquility<\/a><\/p>\n

Stop Striving<\/a><\/p>\n

Simplicity In Christ<\/a><\/p>\n

What is Good<\/a><\/p>\n

Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Subscribe to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/em>\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Robby Buck<\/span><\/strong><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Nonfiction books by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Because joy is rooted in God and is eternal, it doesn\u2019t ebb and flow with the waves of circumstances. In fact, as we grow in our understanding of joy, we can even experience it more acutely when life is hard. Why? Because God uses trials to conform us into the image of Christ. With this awareness, which gives us glimpses of God\u2019s greater purposes, we rejoice because of His masterful work to free us from needing anything but Him.<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

For these reasons, and many others, joy in the Lord is commanded in scripture. It\u2019s not just a good idea, it\u2019s vital to our journey as human beings.\u00a0Rhythms of Joy<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

By finding two undelivered letters in an old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Please Check out the\u00a0\u00a0Cola City Podcast<\/a>\u00a0. Discussions that impact the vision of reaching every man, woman, and child in a city.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For most of my life, I\u2019ve seen problems as negative. However, I\u2019m learning a new perspective. James tells us to, \u201ccount it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds in trials,\u201d[1] but these verses, and others like it, are hard to get my heart around. Trials, hardships and problems don\u2019t seem to correlate with joy.<\/p>\n

But not only is Joy possible in trials, but in tribulations Joy can thrive and grow. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2065,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[991,878,12],"tags":[1492,1489,1478,1480,1496,976,1485,1493,1942,1474,1479,326,1490,1477,1495,1475,1466,1500,945,1491,957,1463,1399,1467,1488,1486,3216,1484,20,944,7,1471,1481,1483,1498,1465,1482,110,1497,1472,1476,1557,1468,630,1487,1494,1470,1499,1464,1473,1178,1469],"class_list":["post-6166","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-choosing-joy","category-eternal-joy","category-joy-in-trials","tag-above-the-fray","tag-bent-on-violence","tag-blue-horizon","tag-butterfly","tag-celebrate-each-day","tag-celebrate-in-times-of-opposition","tag-chaldeans","tag-cling-desperatey-to-the-lord","tag-conformed-to-the-image-of-christ","tag-cool-breeze","tag-delightful","tag-difficulties","tag-eagles-to-devour","tag-expanse-of-the-ocean","tag-experience-god-more-fully","tag-fall","tag-flock","tag-gods-greater-good","tag-gods-greater-purposes","tag-gods-perspective","tag-graham-cooke","tag-habakkuk-317-19","tag-hardships","tag-herd","tag-horsemen","tag-horses","tag-ii-corinthians-13-7","tag-james-12","tag-jesus","tag-john-1633","tag-joy","tag-like-the-deer","tag-love-hodden","tag-negative","tag-nightmares","tag-olives","tag-problems","tag-rejoice-in-the-lord","tag-rejoice-in-the-lord-always","tag-replenish","tag-rhythmic-sound-of-the-surf","tag-romans-828-29","tag-stall","tag-strength","tag-swifter-than-leopards","tag-the-language-of-heaven","tag-tred-on-my-high-places","tag-upgraded","tag-vines","tag-warmth-of-sun","tag-wrightsville-beach","tag-yet-i-will-rejoice-in-the-lord"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6166","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=6166"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7041,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6166\/revisions\/7041"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2065"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=6166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=6166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=6166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}