Pastor James Fam
Finding Joy in Times of Suffering
In Connect Course 301, we help guests discover their God-given S.H.A.P.E. to find the best place for each person to minister and serve in. The ‘E’ in the acronym stands for experience and includes spiritual, professional, and as well as, painful life experiences.
Your lives are filled with mountaintop experiences and valleys of suffering. Overcoming the pain of disappointment, betrayal, and unmet expectations does not happen overnight or easily at all. However, God can use the negative things in our lives to give us opportunity to empathize and relate to others that have gone through the same challenges in life.
As Christians, we are not exempt from hardship, but we are given a source of joy that transcends circumstances—the joy of the Lord.
The Gospel of John reminds us that joy is not dependent on external situations but is rooted in our relationship with Him. Let’s summarize a few points about joy that we have been learning from our message series.
1. The Joy That No One Can Take Away
Jesus reassured His disciples of a joy that could never be taken away:
“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22, ESV)
Jesus acknowledges sorrow but promises that it is not the final chapter. Our suffering, though painful, is temporary. When we fix our eyes on Christ, we experience a joy that is secured in His presence. Each of the disciples that heard those words had to endure persecution and hardship, but none of them were deterred from sharing the Gospel and maintaining their mission to proclaim the teachings of Jesus Christ.
The Enemy will always try to take away our joy because he knows that the church will be weak when the people lose their joy. Conversely, when there is joy in the house, there is a renewed strength that comes through the season of healing and restoration.
2. The Joy of Abiding in Christ
In John 15, Jesus teaches that our joy comes from abiding in Him:
“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.” (John 15:11, ESV)
True joy is found in an intimate relationship with Christ. To “abide” means to remain connected to Him, drawing strength and life from Him. Even in suffering, this connection sustains us and allows joy to flourish in our hearts.
When we go through suffering and hardship, the natural tendency is to withdraw and isolate. We may not be excited about connecting with anyone when we are in pain, but fellowship with others is critical to help us rediscover joy. It starts with our communion with the Lord, and just as the branch is sustained when it remains connected to the vine, our joy and strength is only sustainable when we stay connected to the church community.
3. The Joy of Jesus’ Victory Over Death
The greatest source of joy for believers is knowing that Jesus has conquered death and offers us eternal life:
“I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live.” (John 11:25, ESV)
No matter what suffering we endure on earth, we have the assurance of eternal life with Christ. The pains of this world are temporary, but the joy of knowing we will be with Him forever gives us strength to endure with hope and confidence.
Joy in times of suffering is not about denying pain but about embracing Christ’s presence during our trials. As a pastor, I get to journey with many people through all of lives’ hardships – from job loss, divorce, illness, and unexpected death of loved ones. I have learned to help those that are suffering to acknowledge the pain but not to embrace it as their identity.
I have seen many that have embraced the Truth and allowing Jesus to set them free of anger, bitterness, or self-pity. Just as God has used our painful experience with miscarriages to support other grieving parents, He will use your trials and recovery to serve and minister to others.
Let this promise anchor your soul, knowing that your suffering is temporary, but His joy is eternal. The Gospel of John teaches us that our joy is found in abiding in Christ, trusting His sovereignty, and resting in His victory over sin and death.
If you are facing a difficult season, take heart in Jesus’ words:
“You have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.” (John 16:22, ESV)
Though trials may come, the joy of the Lord is our strength, and nothing can take it away!