Question: What would joy look like in bad times?? Here are some scriptures that deal with joy in the midst of adversity. We can only imagine what that joy actually looked like - physically.
Ps. 126:1-6 Vs. 5 & 6 in particular. A song of assents sung as the people came up to the temple. Even if are in tears, if you stay with the Lord, you will reap in joy.
We can be confident that in the end we WILL have joy and can have this joy even in the midst of adversity. God can and will deliver in this life, or for sure, in the next life.
Matt. 5:11-12 Heb. 12:1
When Christians are persecuted and respond well, people will notice and turn and come to know Christ.
Acts 5:40-42 - adversity didn't dampen their duty.
2 Cor. 6:3-5 If it's questionable, we leave it alone for the sake of the ministry.
2 Cor. 6:10 sorrowful, yet rejoicing.
2 Cor. 12:8-10 - not seeking these adversities, but if in God's wisdom, He will expand His kingdom thru these adversities, then Paul was good with going through it. However, we are not talking about self-inflicted, or self made pain. Injuring yourself in the name of Jesus and then declaring "I'm suffering for Jesus" is not what this is talking about.
1 Thess. 1:6 Even though they knew thy would suffer, still they welcomed it with joy. Not giddy, smiley, silliness, but content in knowing the outcome was in God's hands.
Some other scriptural examples.
Heb. 10:32-34 1 Pet. 4:12-16, 19
It's difficult to put a physical look on the joy that was experienced in the midst of these trials, but knowing the joy of the Lord makes it easier to picture.
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