Job 7:1–3 (ESV): “Has not man a hard service on earth, and are not his days like the days of a hired hand? Like a slave who longs for the shadow, and like a hired hand who looks for his wages, so I am allotted months of emptiness, and nights of misery are apportioned to me.”
Joy is not the result of circumstances but a mindset. Fix your eyes on Jesus—make Him your focus—and you will be filled with unspeakable joy, even in hard times.
After seven days of mourning, Job broke the silence. He lamented his trials and wished he had never been born. Then Eliphaz reminded Job of God’s faithfulness while suggesting that Job needed to repent of some unknown sin. Job responded by comparing his circumstances to those of a servant or hired hand. He felt hopeless, believing his suffering was futile. In the midst of his trial, Job had lost his joy.
When difficulties arise in your life, do you immediately lose your joy? If so, your joy may be circumstantial rather than biblical. Biblical joy is not dependent on external circumstances. It was for the joy set before Him that Jesus endured the cross. Joy doesn’t mean being happy—it means finding contentment in the Lord regardless of your circumstances. You can maintain your joy by keeping your eyes on Jesus. Try it! You will notice a difference in how you respond to trials.
Father, we thank You for everlasting joy. No matter what we face today, remind us that it is temporary. We will be with You in heaven soon enough. Help us to keep our eyes on You as we endure suffering. In Jesus’ name, amen.
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