02/02/17 The joy of the Lord in our lives flushes out the misery of the world, RIGHT?

02/02/17 The joy of the Lord in our lives flushes out the misery of the world, RIGHT?

After someone replied, I thought about my post from a different perspective (sorry, "perspective" is the best word available). It depends on the use and understanding of the word, "misery."

We all go through extremely difficult situations. which cause us great distress, therefore we all experience "misery" in that sense. But this kind of misery is temporary, even for the unsaved person, since it is based upon circumstances.

However, when I posted, I was thinking about THE DEBILITATING MISERY I SEE IN PEOPLE, as an ongoing condition or state, as an integral part of their inner life. In those situations, misery is the absence of abiding joy. I think most people who know me and know my message probably knew that I was thinking about "the life of misery" rather than a momentary discomfort. I was trying to help people, who are not living in victory, to see that their misery, their daily, continuing, tormenting misery is overcome when the joy of the Lord comes into their lives.

Even in the extreme moments of suffering and sorrow in this life, we are delivered from the destructive effects of misery, when we trust Christ. Knowing that the heaviest of burdens is but a light and temporary affliction delivers me from the power of misery. Misery can be debilitating, but the delivering joy of the Lord is my strength.

Another defining phrase in my post were the words, "of the world." There are conditions of life that cause all of us misery for a moment, but the misery of the world, the misery caused by worldliness, the misery that originates from values based on the values of this world, the misery dictated by worldly views, are definitely flushed out by the joy of the Lord.

Believers have joy in the midst of their sorrow. Believers do not have the misery of the world. When believers are overcome by the world, we can turn to Christ for deliverance and He will deliver us, cleanse us from the debilitating, controlling negativity. As believers, we have the joy of the Lord: as Spirit filled and controlled believers, we have fullness of joy. The misery of the world does not coexist with the joy of the Lord.

No one has to live in misery. No one has to be overcome by clinging misery. Deliverance from this kind of misery is the miraculous work of God's grace. God replaces our misery, our torment, our tribulations with His grace, peace, comfort, joy, hope, faith.