Thanks for your thoughts John,I am only trying to share my life expierience as a child of God and what I have based my life on. Some are theologians- I am a lifeologian- I simply believe God and take each step in absolute dependance and trust in Him.
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Righteouness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost- that is the kingdom of God and that is the place in which I choose to dwell.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
The fruit of the Spirit is a natural developement when you abide in the vine- joy is but one of those fruits. A friend once told me to get longsuffering you must suffer long- I was praying about this and I believe the Lord spoke clearly to me when He said that longsuffering is a fruit of the Spirit and can be found not thru struggle but thru abiding in Him.
It has been stated that "A happy death is not in itself any evidence of a person’s piety, nor an assurance that he is sure of final happiness." and while this may be true niether is a sullen, depressed walk that you find in so many religious circles.
I have learned this lesson- to be joyful in my heart even in my worst circumstances. Why because I enjoy pain? No, but I have come to rely soley on His faithfulness. True the fallen nature does not like to be tried but my inner man non the less rejoices. The joy of the Lord has been my strength for some time now and I do not see me turning back now. Perhaps I am especially privildeged to feel this joy but it has been a constant in my walk for the last 10 years. I am sure each of us has a different path to travel. I must agree with the great Apostle when he declares:
Act 20:22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
Act 20:23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
Act 20:24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
His Joy, His peace- I find my life filled with these in spite of some otherwise unpleasant circumstances.
2Co 8:1 Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
2Co 8:2 How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
2Co 8:3 For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
2Co 8:4 Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
Great affliciction and abundance of joy are not mutually exclusive when your source of joy is found in Christ.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Jas 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
Jas 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
While the circumstance may not be joyful Heb. 12:11) indeed I count it all joy knowing my Lord works each and every circumstance for my good.
I do not think highly of myself I am the least of all the brethren and only by God's great mercy can I be saved and I realize that more every day. Only God is deserving of the glory and I will continue to cling to Him with all my heart. Many blessings on your day- Larry