“When your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. You love him even though you have never seen him. Though you do not see him now, you trust him; and you rejoice with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”

The words above were written by the Apostle Peter in his first letter to the Christian Church. They are in chapter 1, verses 6-8. Even though these words are hundreds of years old, they speak to the Christian believer today!

People want to be happy. But happiness is variable and elusive. It usually is dependent on external events or sensory perceptions. Am I sick or well? Have positive or negative things happened to me recently? Do I have enough money? Am I advancing at my job? Can I expect a raise for my work? The answer to these questions and other similar ones may determine the state of your happiness.

“Happy” is a word developed from “Hap” – or lucky, fortunate, timely convenient. It may be your state at a given moment but it can easily be changed to unhappiness by the vagaries or shifting events in your life. At any point in time, you may be happy or unhappy.

Joy is different. True joy is based on a trust in God that is steadfast and anchored in a solid unchangeable truth. When you know God’s promises for you are certain and will be settled on you by Him. His word is immutable! So He will not fail because God cannot fail!

Joy is like the ocean. Whether the tide is high or low, it is the same ocean with the same water. It is all always there! Your joy in Jesus Christ and His Word is always present because He is always present with you and His promises are always the same!

Read the opening words above again. And realize that you can always rejoice “with a glorious, inexpressible joy.”

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www.firstagcc.org Write the Pastor at PastorBill@firstagcc.org