Growing up in Jamaica, sometimes if someone was in a very good mood, someone was likely to comment; “fowl (chicken) a merry hawk deh near.” This means that in times of great excitement and laughter that trouble maybe lurking. While this maybe true if people decide to go to excessive and reckless means to seek pleasure, I could not understand why someone being very happy had to generate such a negative response. Does not Solomon say that, “a merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries up the bone.” (Proverbs 17:22)
How many of these old time sayings and ways of thinking cause us to think that it may not be possible to truly have joy and peace? I know that in this life we will have trouble but I also know that Solomon speaks of times and seasons. So if I experience times of need and sadness then this must give way to joy, happiness and abundance. Certainly trials and tests cannot be our continual portion.
Jesus once said to his disciples, Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete. (John 16:24) It was the same Jesus who caused Simon to catch such an abundance of fish that it caused his net to break. (Luke 5)
God is not a dreary old grump waiting for us to mess up so that he can stretch out his rod and zap us. Nor is he like a punitive parent who does not want us to have fun and who wants us to work all of our lives and never enjoy good things. In fact God will not withhold any good thing from them who walk in righteousness. (Psalm 84:11)
God owns every house on earth, all the money in the banks, all the cars that exist, all the gold and silver in the world. Everything we need is in Christ Jesus to be found. God wants us to have joy and peace and to have all our needs met. Continue to trust him and rest in the assurance that he has already provided everything that we need.
A.P.-Y.
Devotional Inspirations 