Normally, I post on the first of each month, but this month I am posting my blog over two weeks late. Hurricane Helene devastated the southeast beyond anything anyone could have imagined.
When it hit the small town I live in not far from the Georgia-South Carolina state line, Helene was still a category one hurricane. Most of the area has lots of trees and vegetation since it is a rural community. And since it was early in the fall season, the trees still had most of the leaves clinging the branches.
While, the leaves are pretty to look at why they’re changing, they can be bad news during severe weather, acting as sails on a boat and catching the wind. The hurricane-force winds tore through the countryside like a knife through hot butter.
The trees took out everything from power lines, homes, power, and cell towers. Over two weeks later many people are still without power and water. Regardless of our financial status, everyone was struggling. People were panic buying gas and basic needs to the point some began looting.
Needless to say, everyone was getting impatient and ready to get back to normal life minus the anxiety. Soon neighbors were out helping each other remove down trees and debris from yards and roadways. Until power was restored, most of us could only get hot meals from local churches and the Red Cross. During these hard times, I don’t think anyone was really happy, but we shared a communal joy knowing we have survived the worst storm season have ever seen, we learned being alive is all that really matters.
We’ve all heard the sermons and lectures about how God gives us joy that the world cannot take away. I remember as a child being told that joy isn’t based on our circumstances like happiness is, Because I will praise you anywhere. Joy gives us Peace in our hearts when life is hard and things aren’t going like we hoped—all glory to God (Psalm 16:11, Romans 12:12-13.)
I can attest now that joy is not a natural feeling or mindset, because joy comes from God, not from ourselves or our circumstances (Galatians 5:22.) Despite learning this while growing up in the church, I don’t think any of us truly understand or experience true joy until we have endured hardship or loss.
I now believe that the Apostle Paul intentionally grouped joy and peace together because they are spiritually and physically intertwined (Galatians 5:22-23.) I have seen people who have lost everything in the last few weeks, yet were still able to smile or find something to be thankful for.
These people have a peace that comes from God and not from this peace (John 14:27, Romans 8:6, Philippians 4:7, Colossians 3:15.)
I have lived long enough to know the difference between the peace of the world and the peace of God. The world puts its hope into temporary things that will make them happy, although they will not last (Ecclesiastes 2:1-11,) God’s people wait for a heavenly reward. We should find our hope, pleasure, and peace in God alone.
Unfortunately, too many of us trust in the blessings and gifts of God, than in God Himself; things are distractions from God. There is a subculture within the Christian community that pursues and believes in living their best life now.
They have find their hope and peace from the temporary comforts and pleasures of this life. Some foolishly believe that things were circumstances are the true blessings of God.
When trials or hardship occur, they have neither Joy or peace, because they have built their homes foolishly (Matthew 7:24-26.) When happiness becomes our purpose, we are living by the flesh instead of the Spirit (Galatians 5:19-21.)
The Flesh
I am not talking about sexual desires, but pursuing temporary happiness that only satisfies our hearts and flesh. We live in a temporary world that strives to please our flesh and hearts and many will die for the party.
The world wants a quick-fix happiness that is temporary because it doesn’t come from the Spirit. This world is all about winning at life instead of sacrificing for others like the early church did (Romans 12:10, 1 Corinthians 10:24, Philippians 2:4.)
Bob Brinner explains, “Serious students of the Bible know that Christians will never win as most count winning. We are not called to win. We are called to be obedient to all Jesus commanded us to do.” If not, we are lukewarm. Spiritually immature people live for temporary happiness and pleasing their hearts of flesh.
The Apostle Paul reminded the early church about the difference between the fruits of the spirit and the fruits of the flesh because he knew our flesh is corrupt (Galatians 5:19-24.) Who you Gon Be? Temporary happiness satisfies the flesh only, it can never truly satisfy our souls (Ecclesiastes 5:11.) That is why joy is always greater than temporary happiness!
