The trade.
As we were singing in church yesterday, a particular song was raised and as I sang (with all my heart, mind you, 😇 accompanied by a wee bit of dancing 😅), I had a moment.
The title of this blog then came to mind and I smiled to myself.
A few lyrics of the song are below:
I’m trading my sorrows
I’m trading my shame
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord
I’m trading my sickness
I’m trading my pain
I’m laying them down for the joy of the Lord
It’s a trade isn’t it?
Sorrows, shame, sickness, and pain; all for the joy of the Lord!
And it’s our choice to trade; God is ever ready.
What exactly is the joy of the Lord??
Well, one thing is for sure, its source is God!
The “joy of the Lord” is a foundational biblical concept referring to a deep, lasting gladness and peace that comes from a relationship with God.
Unlike temporary happiness, which relies on external circumstances, this joy is supernatural, stable, and independent of life’s ups and downs.
I found these three core characteristics of the joy of the Lord.
• Rooted in God’s character: it comes from the knowledge of God’s love, forgiveness and eternal promises, rather than a situational success.
• Fruit of the Spirit. It sure is. It’s part of the fruit. What are the others? Love, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control. They are 9 in all.
• Not the absence of sorrow. It does not mean that a person cannot grieve or experience hardship BUT rather a deep spiritual gladness sustains them through it.
Is that not amazing?!
💃🏽💃🏽🙌🏾🙌🏾🙏🏽🙏🏽🙇🏽♀️🙇🏽♀️
Nehemiah 8:10 NIV – This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
Psalm 16:11 NIV – You make known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.
There is indeed joy in the house of the Lord!
There is joy in the presence of the Lord!
What are some other things we can trade in our daily walk with God?
• Trade worry for peace. This one! One could say that I used to have a PhD in worry. No more! I cling to Philippians 4:6 and 7.
Philippians 4:6-7 NIV –
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
• Trade self reliance for divine wisdom. Here we recognize and acknowledge that God is the ultimate source of our ability to produce wealth.
Psalm 127:1 NIV – Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain.
Unless the LORD watches over the city,
the guards stand watch in vain.
• Trade mundane work for purpose. View your daily trade, business or career as a divine assignment and a way to serve your community.
Colossians 3:23 NIV – Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.
God is good!
God is awesome!
What a God!
2 Peter 1:3 NIV – His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.
Life is full of choices.
What do you choose to do today?
I choose to do as the these words from the song “Sufficient for today” say –
When I’m worried about tomorrow
I won’t be overwhelmed
The burdens that I’ve carried
I will choose to lay them down.
God bless you!
😊🙏🏽
