Living Apart from the World

By: Emily Lehner

I am not sure if the warm weather is here to stay, but it certainly is visiting for a few days. After braving the below freezing weather for the last week, it is relieving to be able to enjoy a walk across campus instead of sprinting from building to building. I am sure that we still can expect some cold weather again, but I try not to let that influence the joy I am experiencing now.

‭Philippians‬ ‭4:4‬ says, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.” This verse commands us to rejoice, and not only do we need to rejoice, but we must rejoice in The Lord, and we must do it always.

We cannot let the things happening in the world around us prevent us from rejoicing in The Lord. Joy in The Lord is what separates us from the world. To non-believers, it is a glimpse at what being a Christian means. It represents the hope and satisfaction we receive, knowing that Christ is solid ground for us in every moment.

Joy is difficult. It is contrary to our nature and rarely is it our first instinct. For these reasons, having joy is intentional and essential to our well-being and relationship with Christ. Joy gives us the ability to learn more about the character of Christ.

I encourage you to think about where in your life you could be more joyful. Think often about how joyful it is to have a Father who embodies the fruits of the spirit even when those around us here on Earth and we, ourselves, do not. Joy can lead to grace, peace, and hopefulness if you allow it.

Plant the seed of joy in your heart today, and give it water and sunlight to grow. Rejoice in The Lord, because there is nothing more joyful than the opportunity to be in relationship with The Savior of the Universe.

 

Written by Emily Lehner, writer for the Alumni Center and a sophomore Writing major at IWU. She is active on the cross country and track teams. She is passionate about using her writing skills to share the good news of Christ with others and writes often on her personal blog at www.emilylehner.wordpress.com.

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