Finding joy in Christ amidst the struggles.

It is stressful to live in a big modern city like Singapore and not hard to understand why. Everything around us is all about efficiency and excellence. Without either one you are deemed to be left behind. Singapore has well caught up with other trends too, with the advent of the internet, sin perpetuates what we see and hear and read. People around us start to dress suggestively, embracing that it is alright. Homosexuality perpetuates the society, condoning it and accepting it, even some Christians do. I face other struggles at home, on being respectful of my parents yet not accepting their pagan religions. With friends, I struggle with tolerating them. Struggle, struggle, struggles. It is such a struggle living in Singapore, on top of the struggles that I already face as a Christian. Maybe it is the latter that made me understand the struggles I am facing.

Why did I title this post giving the idea of joy even though I face so many struggles? Some people would say that they would rather give up than to fight on, for it is not worth it. And with that, they go back to their old ways as though they have never known Christ before. Where is the joy? I have to admit that even as a Christian, I do have thoughts of giving up sometimes. I am human with emotions built into me, and I have my down periods too. But the higher assurance that I have keeps me going. 

I believe that Christ died for my sins so that I can be reconciled to God. It is not because I deserve it that Christ had to die, but because I do not and did not deserve it, yet Christ died for me. Doesn't quite make sense because it seems a bit too good to be true. My joy is not found in earthly pleasures, though I know that they can keep me happy for temporary moments, like a good cup of coffee or a good meal, or even spending some time sharing with a friend and catching up. Some people may find temporal joy in other things, depending on what interests them. But these fleeting joys don't stay for good. We may fall back to our sorrow and struggles again soon after. Jesus promised true eternal joy to those who believe him.

To frame the concept of joy properly in our minds, we have to think out of the worldly ideas of joy, those that are not enduring. What we truly need is a right relationship with our creator, God. It is only when we are made right with him that we can be with him, back to the source of true joy. And the only way to be made right is by believing in Jesus! 

It is thus a sincere prayer to focus on Jesus, and the true joy promised. Not the little fleeting temporal joys that the world promise, for they fade away. Even in all the struggles and problems that we face, none of these things will take away any bit of the joy promised. Stand firm in Christ.