Sunday, April 1, 2012

Hold On To Hope and Joy

Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. -- 1 Peter 5:8

Palm Sunday is a day filled with hope and promise. Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, something Zechariah had proclaimed. The disciples, the followers of Jesus, did not know or understand that this triumphant entry would soon be replaced with deep sorrow and pain.

That’s how Satan works. He comes upon us when we are least expecting his presence and he tries to steal our joy, our happiness, our peace. Peter warns us to be wary, watchful, wise.

It’s just so easy to focus on what’s wrong in our lives rather than what is good. A woman is slowly getting her health back after suffering from a serious condition. She’ll always have the condition but she is now mobile and able to do most of what she wants to do. That’s a long way from not being able to stand by herself or even pour herself a glass of sweet tea.

But instead of focusing on her recovery, she is obsessing over what she can no longer do. It is so frustrating. There is no joy in her life because she refuses to see the good. And that makes everyone around her miserable. I’ve no doubt that Satan is cheering her on.

A dear man has been slowly reaching what we laughingly refer to as the twilight years of our lives. He cherishes card games and time with friends and family. Then he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and given only a few months to live. He is angry and bitter, on tranquilizers for the depression that haunts his every waking moment.

I pray that he’ll find peace, and soon. His friends have rallied and his pastors are regular visitors and counselors. It is a hard road and I am not making light of it. Nor am I claiming to understand how he feels. I only know that anger and bitterness will rob him of the joy and peace he could experience during these months he has left on earth. Satan wants it that way.

In our lives many times we face circumstances we can not change. We can either be joyful where we are, giving God glory and total control of our lives, or we can let Satan rob us of God’s peace and strength. It isn’t always easy. I fail repeatedly to reach that moment where, as Paul says, I can be content in all circumstances. But I’m trying every day.

What about you? Are you choosing to be joyful or are you letting Satan have his way with your life? Today is all about hope and promise. Grasp it firmly and don’t let Satan take it away from you.