Still Joyful

Bible Reading: Philippians 4:4-9; 1 Peter 2:21-25

“When are we going to buy an electric ice cream maker?” Ryan asked as he and Dad took turns cranking their old one.

Dad grinned. “Not until Old Faithful here quits doing its job. To me, all this work is part of making ice cream.”

As Ryan took a turn at the crank, he remembered remarks made by one of the boys at school. “Dad, when you were a kid, were you ever laughed at for being a Christian?”

“Sometimes,” replied Dad. “But as a kid, I was laughed at for lots of reasons. I didn’t have many friends, and I was better at math than at sports, so other kids made fun of me. At least when I was teased for being a Christian it felt like a worthy cause—even though it still hurt.” Dad paused, then added, “My father used to remind me that the Bible tells us to rejoice in persecution.”

“You mean—be glad?” asked Ryan. “Even when kids laugh at me?”

Dad nodded. “It doesn’t mean you should be glad they’re being unkind to you. It means that real joy doesn’t depend on what others think of us, but what God thinks of us—and He loves us more than we can imagine. So much that He sent His Son to die for us so we could be saved.”

“But feeling joyful when others are teasing you is hard to do,” Ryan said. “Even harder than turning this crank.”

“Yes,” said Dad as he took the crank from Ryan, “but Jesus is always there to help us, even in difficult times, and we can be joyful about that. He was rejected by others when He died on the cross, and He tells us we’ll be rejected by others too. But He was willing to suffer and die so we could have eternal life with Him. Knowing that is what brings us joy when we’re faced with persecution.”

Dad stopped turning the crank. “It’s kind of like this ice cream. Knowing how good it will be helps us crank it.” He grabbed a couple spoons. “And I think it’s finally time to taste it,” he said, handing one to Ryan.

Ryan put a spoonful of ice cream into his mouth. “Wow! That’s good.” • Barbara J. Westberg

How About You?

Are you a joyful Christian? Maybe you’re dealing with something like sickness, grief, or even persecution that makes it hard to feel joyful. Those are difficult situations—ones you may need to talk to an adult about so they can help—but you can still be joyful, even in times like that. As you look to Jesus and remember His promises, He will fill you with His joy, even in difficult times.

Today’s Key Verse:
Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me by Your generous Spirit. (NKJV)

Today’s Key Thought:

Look to Jesus for joy