In a world where disappointments, frustrations, damaged relationships, trials, tribulations, sickness, pain, and suffering happen too often for our liking, it is all too easy to lose our joy. Added to these things, at least for Christians, is the issue of brokenness – which includes such things as discipline from our Lord, the testing of our faith, dying to self, and the crushing of our pride. And in spite of what we Christians know about the goodness, love and presence of God, some days it feels like there are just too many “woes” to bear – be they the woes of brokenness or troubles in general. It is during these times that we tend to lose our joy and slide into such things as discouragement, hopelessness, anger, resentment, despair, and sometimes even depression.

 Though such loss of joy with its accompanying slide into discouragement and despair are common, we are never to think this is normal for the Christian. The normal Christian life is to be a life of joy – even in the midst of brokenness and suffering. We may feel miserable. We may be experiencing unrelenting pain or prolonged sickness or a life-limiting disability. Those we love the most may be disappointing or hurting us the most. The detestableness of our sin and the thought of years wasted by sinfulness may weigh heavy on our heart and send tears flowing down our cheeks. Our heart may be breaking and the future may appear dismal in light of the current circumstances. Yet the normal Christian life is one of joy in the midst of any or all of these kinds of things.

 This does not mean that our joy removes or replaces our suffering and sorrow. It means that we have joy in the midst of suffering and sorrow – like Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. Though they had been beaten with rods, thrown into prison, and their feet locked in stocks, their pain did not remove their joy any more than their joy removed their pain. In the midst of their pain, they had joy – as evidenced by their singing hymns of praise to God. This is an example of joy in the midst of pain, suffering, or brokenness.

 While considering this matter of Christian joy in the midst of suffering and sorrow, I was doing some research and came across the following quote by Tertullian – an early Christian writer and apologist who lived from 155–230 AD. He said, “Your joy is where your hope is.”

 For me, this statement sums up the truth about joy in the midst of suffering and sorrow, as-well-as in the midst of brokenness. In fact, when contemplated in light of a scripture like James 1:2-4, it becomes very clear that what we hope in is indeed where our joy is.

 Now when I speak of having joy in the midst of brokenness or suffering based on where my hope is, I am not speaking of exaggerated feelings of happiness (euphoria) or a mentally induced kind of happiness that spreads a smile across my face regardless of the circumstances (living in denial or practicing the power of positive thinking in the midst of disappointing or dire circumstances). For me, joy in the midst of brokenness and other forms of suffering is made up of a deep feeling of contentment with God, confidence that I am safe in His hands in spite of what the circumstances may imply, trustful dependence on Him to bring good out of whatever is happening at the moment, seeing the wisdom of submitting to His will and ways, and gratitude driven praise. For me, this is joy based on where my hope is. For me, this is what makes rejoicing always, giving thanks in all things, and even singing hymns of praise at midnight in spite of the pain not only reasonable, but desirable. To me, this is the normal Christian mindset – a mindset that leads to joy in the midst of brokenness and other forms of suffering.

 Therefore, I encourage you to memorize this simple statement “Your joy is where your hope is” because it is the foundational truth upon which this examination of joy in the midst of brokenness is built.

 In addition to the quote from Tertullian, I want to bring to your attention a statement found in Webster's dictionary under his definition of joy. There we read: joy is the emotion evoked by the prospect of possessing what one desires. If we desire the same spiritually edifying things God desires for us when going through times of brokenness, suffering, and sorrow, then we will experience joy over the fact that our desires are being fulfilled.

 Therefore, when we combine “Our joy is where our hope is” with “joy is the emotion evoked by the prospect of possessing what we desire” we begin to get a very clear picture of why the normal Christian way is joy in the midst of brokenness, suffering, and sorrow. Indeed, when our hope is in God, and when we desire what He desires for us, we have joy regardless of the circumstances.

 However, saying something is much easier than doing it. Talking about joy in the midst of brokenness or suffering is easy compared to driving away the anxiety and fears preventing us from having joy – while at the same time nurturing the faith and developing the mindset required to have joy during those kinds of times while.

 Therefore, though Tertullian’s statement and Webster’s definition clearly point the way to joy in the midst of suffering, Christians often find them difficult to apply when faced with unwanted circumstances or emotionally depressing feelings. So what are we to do in order to experience joy in the midst of brokenness or other kinds of suffering? We need to bring Romans 12:2 into action and renew our mind so we can change our thinking. What follows is intended to help us do just that.

 To help us see our need of a changed mind, let us first consider those who do not hope in God. Those who do not hope in God not only lose joy when faced with difficult, trying times, they place their hope in whatever they think will get them out of their situation. To them, life is either happy or sad, pleasant or unpleasant, good or bad. The sad, the unpleasant, and the bad are to be avoided whenever possible. The happy, pleasant, and good are to be pursued as much as possible. When sad, unpleasant, or bad times cannot be avoided, they are to be treated as one treats cancer – something to be gotten rid of at all costs, or at least dealt with in a way that masks or dulls the pain so that life becomes bearable again.

 Such an approach fits into the category of “black or white” thinking, or what counselors sometimes call “all or nothing” thinking. This approach sees pain and suffering on the one hand or happiness and ease of life on the other hand as the sum of who or what we are at any given moment. It is living as if joy is obtainable only in the good times and as if unhappiness is all-consuming in the bad times. And though many think this way, this is not the way Christians are to think.

 We Christians are to think in a way that enables us to see that Christian joy exists in the midst of our worst circumstances. Remember Paul and Silas? They were suffering – suffering the pain of having been beaten with rods, imprisoned, and their feet locked in stocks. Yet they were singing hymns of praise to God. They had joy in the midst of suffering. Their joy did not replace their suffering any more than their suffering prohibited their joy. For them, joy and suffering became an integrated, unified whole. How? Their joy and suffering were held together by their hope in God. They desired for themselves what He desired for them – which was not immediate release from the pain but the advancement of the Gospel and their own growth in faith and conformity to the image of Christ.

 Consider this carefully – it is our faith in God, our confidence in the goodness of God, our willing submission to the will of God, our desiring what God desires – and in the end, God Himself, who is our hope for all things good. And when this is our hope, it unites brokenness with joy and suffering with praise. And when the two are tied together by our hope in God, we are able to have joy in the midst of brokenness and grateful praise in the midst of suffering.

The uniting of joy and suffering is not an idea based on wishful thinking or crafted by those who believe in the power of positive thinking. This truth comes to us from God though His scriptures. There are many scriptures that speak of the integration of joy and brokenness. However, we will look at just a few. As you examine the following examples, (1) consider the context, (2) notice the connection between joy and sorrow within the context, (3) look for the object of hope, and then (4) determine why it is a source of joy.

     1.  Psalm 30:5 . . . For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for a lifetime; weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.

          A.  Context: God’s anger toward us because of willful (we know that what we are doing is sin but do it anyway), repetitive (we continue doing the same thing over and over), unrepentant, uncorrected sinfulness.

          B. Object of hope: God’s character – His favor lasts a lifetime while His anger is momentary by comparison. We will suffer pain under the sting of His discipline, but this kind of discipline is short-lived.

          C. Therefore, our object of hope (God’s character) is our source of joy because we know that the pain of His discipline will be replaced by the joy that comes from continuing to grow in living a mentally, emotionally, spiritually and relationship healthier life as a result of His discipline.

     2.  Isaiah 35:10 . . . And the ransomed of the Lord will return and come with joyful shouting to Zion, with everlasting joy upon their heads. They will find gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.

          A.  Context: Israel had been carried away into captivity because of their prolonged practice of sin in spite of God’s warnings and appeals to repent.

          B. Object of hope: God’s promise that after the punishment for their sin is over, they will be able to return to the Promised Land and live there once again.

          C. Therefore, our object of hope (God’s promises) assures us that the losses we bring upon ourselves through foolish and sinful living won’t be lost forever. If we humble ourselves before the Lord, repent of our foolish and sinful ways, and return to living according to God and His word, the same God who promised to restore Israel to their land (Deuteronomy 30:1-10), is our God, and we can depend on Him to either restore what was lost or give us something better. Such a God as this is the reason we can have joy when being broken, because what may be lost will not be lost forever.

     3.  Habakkuk 3:17-19 . . . Though the fig tree should not blossom and there be no fruit on the vines, though the yield of the olive should fail and the fields produce no food, though the flock should be cut off from the fold and there be no cattle in the stalls, [18] Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. [19] The Lord God is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds' feet, and makes me walk on my high places.

          A.  Context: Habakkuk was God’s prophet prophesying the coming punishment of Israel for their prolonged practice of sin. He knew doom was imminent and he understood how horrible and painful the punishment was going to be.

          B. Object of hope: God’s mercy in the midst of His discipline which enables those who come under His discipline to endure it with an attitude of gratitude for His goodness in the midst of His discipline, and for the confidence that the time of discipline will pass and the joy of His lovingkindness will be restored.

          C. Therefore, our object of hope (God’s mercy) comforts, sustains, and gives us joy as we experience God’s goodness in the midst of His judgement and discipline for our prolonged sinfulness, or as we watch those we love go through a time of judgement and discipline knowing that in the midst of their suffering God is still caring for them and doing them good.

     4.  John 16:20-22 . . . Truly, truly, I say to you, that you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will grieve, but your grief will be turned into joy. [21] Whenever a woman is in labor she has pain, because her hour has come; but when she gives birth to the child, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy that a child has been born into the world. [22] Therefore you too have grief now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.

          A.  Context: Christ is preparing his disciples for his imminent crucifixion and all the difficulties they will face in relation to his death and after His ascension.

          B. Object of hope: The promise of seeing Christ again and entering into His eternal kingdom in spite of the difficult and painful circumstances between now and His return.

          C. Though life may include times that are as hard and as painful as childbirth, we know those times are not forever because our object of hope (Christ’s return and entrance into His eternal kingdom) is guaranteed by God. Therefore, we can have a measure of joy in the midst of our sorrow as we look forward to a fullness of joy that is unending.

     5.  Romans 5:3-5 . . . And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; [4] and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; [5] and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. James 1:2-4 . . . Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

          A.  Context: Why Christians facing trials, tribulations, pain, sickness, suffering and other such circumstances ought to rejoice (as opposed to complaining and focusing their attention on obtaining relief).

          B. Two objects of hope: First, the fact that God’s methods of growing us up to spiritual maturity produce their intended results – even though they include difficult trials and painful tribulation. Second, the changes produced within us by God’s methods for growing us up are of such an unsurpassable quality and nature that – instead of regret – we have gratitude to God for taking us through the process.

          C. Therefore, our object of hope (God’s methods work; the produced results are unsurpassed in quality and nature) fills us with joy over the expected outcome even as we are broken by the trials and tribulation that get us there.

     6.  Hebrews 12:2 . . . Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

          A.  Context: Using Jesus as our example of valuing the outcome (for us, inward changes, spiritual profit, made fit to serve God) that is produced by our trials and suffering so that we endure them with a measure of joy, rather than running from them or seeking relief from them.

          B. Object of hope: God’s promise that if we follow Jesus’ example of persevering in cooperating with God’s purposes and/or work, great good will come to us.

          C. Therefore, our object of hope (knowing God will bring good out of whatever we face) is the reason we can have joy in the midst of whatever we may face.

 Once we choose to put our hope in God and support that choice by believing that our joy is where our hope is (or by growing in believing so that over time we become convinced), we will see that our circumstances fit within a larger whole. They are never the whole itself, and because this is true, they are no longer all-consuming like they were in our weak faith or unbelief days.

 Think about it this way. Because we are children of God, we are always in the care of God, who is larger and more powerful than any individual circumstance or group of circumstances, or person or group of people we encounter. We see the truth of this when God went with David to slay Goliath. David was not bigger or stronger than Goliath, but God was – and David relied on God’s presence and support to act courageously and win the victory.

 Since God is always larger than our circumstances or the people we must deal with, we are always within the boundaries of His loving care – even during life’s darkest hours. Therefore, we can confidently conclude that we are always safe because we are always in His hands. As the scripture says, nothing can separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:31-39).

Therefore, because God is larger than our circumstances and because we have made Him our hope, we can confidently look to God to see us through such things as brokenness and pain and disappointment and suffering. However, Psalm 37 reminds us that trustful patience is required, because God rarely works as fast as our flesh would like. Yet if we patiently wait for Him to bring us to a better end than our circumstances imply is possible, we need never lose hope and hence our joy during the waiting.

Because God is larger than our circumstances, we can also depend on Him to bring us through foolish failures and willful sinning – if we make things right with Him and humbly accept that there will be some reaping of what we have sown. In other words, if we come to Him with a broken and contrite heart, repent, confess our sin, ask forgiveness, and proceed to draw near to Him, He will not only forgive us, He will restore our joy!

 Here is the important point of what has just been stated. Because our circumstances exist within the larger framework of God, there is no legitimate reason for us to treat them and therefore experience them as if they are all consuming. Because our circumstances exist within the larger framework of God, there is no legitimate reason for us to feel despair or feel hopeless or entertain the sense we have been abandoned by God or believe that our well-being is controlled by our circumstances. God is always larger than our circumstances which is why – when we make Him our hope – He becomes the source of our joy.

 There is another reason for us to have joy in the midst of brokenness, suffering, and sorrow. These kinds of times are God’s tools lovingly used to progressively change us into what He saved to be so He can accomplish through us more than could be accomplished otherwise. And here again, it is the scriptures that teach us this great truth.

 According to the Word of God, brokenness, sorrow, and suffering are an important part of discipline (Hebrews 12:5-13). They are an equally important part of growing in faith and godliness (Romans 5:3-5; James 1:2-4). Sorrow and suffering are inseparable from spreading the gospel and from living the Christ-like life in the public’s view (John 15:20; Acts 14:22; II Timothy 3:12). We see the truth of this in Christ’s life (Isaiah 53:3; Hebrews 2:9-10,18). And brokenness and sorrow are inseparable from facing our sin and getting right with God (Psalm 51:16-17).

 Therefore, we can safely conclude that brokenness – with its godly sorrow over sin – is precious to God. In fact, God is well-pleased when we respond with broken hearts and penitential grief to the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, the sin revealing truth of His Word, the call of our conscience, and the rebuke of anyone who points out our sin. God intends these things to both awaken us and cut us deeply so that our hearts are broken and contrite, tears flow, godly repentance ensues, confession and seeking forgiveness follows, dying some more to self continues, and the longing to be pleasing to God propels us forward in our ongoing pursuit of godliness. This is the path to joy in the midst of brokenness. And this is why joy and brokenness are inseparably linked.

 In contrast to godly sorrow, hopelessness and despair are a response that gives victory to the devil. Why? Because hopelessness and despair are the result of unbelief in the goodness of God and self-centeredness. Such unbelief and self-centeredness turns us away from God and toward self-pity or self-denigration, and sometimes even depression. Is this not proof that such responses are the result of the devil’s efforts to lure us away from God? Therefore, it is important to keep the right perspective as we pass through brokenness, or times of trial and tribulation.

Truly, to gain and maintain joy in any and every situation, our primary focus must be God, His provision, His protection, His goodness, and His glory.

 When we have the right perspective, we see times of brokenness as something for God’s benefit first, and then our own. We see deep feelings of sadness, shame, and pain over our sin as responses that lead us to improved submission to God’s will, obedience to God’s Word, and living for God’s glory. We see our desires for further conformity to the image of Christ as inner motivation to live in such a way as to bring glory of God. And we see our inner longing for improved fellowship and intimacy with God as the pursuit of that which brings Him pleasure first, and then us.

Taking these thoughts about right perspective a step farther, we can reasonably conclude that we ought to gratefully accept and humbly endure the sorrow, tears, and sadness which accompany brokenness. In other words, we must be careful not to despise trials and testings, tribulation and difficult people. Why? These are the things God uses to reveal the yet unremoved remnants of our old nature, to increase our godly perseverance in the face of trials and tribulation, to strengthen our faith, to build patience, compassion, and love for others, and to further conform us to the image of Jesus Christ.

 Therefore, the wise Christian joyfully embraces brokenness, trials, tribulations, testings, pain, and suffering as instruments of God for our good and His glory.

 The following statements are intended to help us think about the reasonableness of making God our hope and to value the outcome or results of such a choice.

 If indeed we are safe in God’s hands; If God is our provider and protector above and beyond all the self-provision and self-protection we can muster or the world can offer; If God is continually working to bring good out of every circumstance for the well-being of His people; If God, Himself, is sufficient for us so that in spite of what we don’t have, do have, or are facing we can honestly say we are content in God and with God – knowing that He is with us and taking us through whatever it is we are facing; If God is intent on conforming us to the image of Christ, and if such conforming is indeed one of the best things that could happen to us in this life; If victory over the old nature and sin is guaranteed by God so that in spite of our own weaknesses and failings all we need do is persevere until victory is attained; If God’s discipline and training are actions of purest and perfect love; If loss of life here is the door to being there with God forevermore; then surely we are fools to have our hope in anything or anyone other than God, and in His son, Jesus Christ. And if our hope is in Them, then no matter what befalls us, joy will be a natural and rational part of whatever it is we are going through.

 If indeed it can be said that joy is where our hope is – and if God is our hope, then joy will always be in us, or at the very least, close at hand. This is why we can sing hymns of praise to God in spite of the pain and suffering we are enduring, just as Paul and Silas did in that Philippian jail so many years ago. And this is why I can confidently say that for you and for me, rejoicing and praise are a normal and natural part of brokenness and suffering.

 In conclusion, I want to remind us that joy and faith (confidence in God and His goodness) are inseparable. And just as joy and faith are inseparable, so joy and worship are inseparable. Indeed, worship is a natural response to our hope in God.

 We read these words in I Thessalonians 5:16-18 . . . Rejoice always; [17] pray without ceasing; [18] in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Notice the connection between rejoicing and thanksgiving and unceasing prayer! May this connection impact the kind of praying you do in the midst of suffering and sorrow.

 Finally, joy in the midst of brokenness, suffering, and sorrow is not to be a private joy only. God makes it clear that joy of this nature is to impact the entire church. We read about this in Ephesians 5:15-20 . . . Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, [16] making the most of your time, because the days are evil. [17] So then do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is. [18] And do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit, [19] speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; [20] always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father;

 May it be true of us that as a church, we have joy, that we promote joy, and that we protect joy. May our joy in the Lord be genuine. May it have its rightful effect on our heart, mind, and life – regardless of the circumstances.

Revised 2022