Living a life purpose

Joy and suffering are two words we rarely expect to find together. When life is difficult, our natural response is often to ask, “Why is this happening?” We may believe that joy can only return when our circumstances improve and the painful season comes to an end. However, Scripture presents us with a very different understanding of joy. Biblical joy is not dependent on everything going well. It is rooted in the assurance that God is present, faithful and working through every part of our lives. Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2–3 (NIV) A different perspective on trials James does not tell us that suffering itself is enjoyable. He does not ask us to pretend that pa...

Joy is something we all long for, yet so often we look for it in the wrong places. We think it will come when life gets easier, when our prayers are answered, when our circumstances improve or when everything finally falls into place. But Psalm 100 points us towards a different path. It teaches us that the gateway to joy is gratitude. “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name.” Psalm 100:4 A grateful heart sees life differently. Gratitude does not deny the reality of pain, disappointment or difficulty, but it changes the way we walk through them. Enter through the door of gratitude Psalm 100:4 invites us to enter God’s gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise. Notice the order: before we enter His courts, we first pass through the gateway of thanksgiving. Gratitude is the doorway into God’s presence. Praise flows naturall...