“…Rejoice in the Lord always;”
(Phil 4:4)

We are asking, “Why do Christians lose their joy?” Here’s the next reason:

The wrong view of God will quench your joy!

Too often our understanding of God’s infinite character is limited by the finite framework of our minds. When facing the things that we cannot understand (or explain) we must remember His words:

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
(Is. 55:8)

When things do not go as we planned—or circumstances are too harsh to understand, we struggle to say:

“…The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away,
Blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)

Our view of joy is also stretched by the testimony of Habakkuk:

“Though the fig tree should not blossom;
And there be no fruit on the vines,
Though the yield of the olive should fail;
And the fields produce no food;
Though the flock should be cut off from the fold
…and there be no cattle in the stalls,

Yet I will exult in the LORD,
I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.”
(Hab. 3:17-18)

In the midst of trouble and trials, we can still know joy. It may not be happiness but it can be joy—the confidence that God is still on His throne and still working in my life! We cannot get our view of God from this world or from our circumstances. We must stretch to know God through the lens of His Word.

This praise song (written by Matt Redman) will stretch your worship. The only way that we can learn to say these words is to allow the Holy Spirit to supply His joy from within:

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out
I'll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord, blessed be Your name