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Regaining Lost Joy
by Jill Briscoe
Text: Isaiah 40:28–31, Psalm 137
Topic: Where we find joy
Big Idea: We lose our joy for various reasons, but we can always regain it by waiting on the Lord.
Keywords: Attitudes; Discouragement; Joy; Strength; Waiting on God
Introduction:
- The people of Israel lost their joy when they doubted God.
- The Israelites were so halfhearted they did not even realize that the presence and glory of God was gone.
- We, too, can live ignorant of the richness of what God has for us, yet he invites us to be renewed.
- God will always move close to us if we will take the first step by asking for forgiveness.
- Illustration: A dying bicyclist told a priest that he was not sorry for the life he had lived, but was sorry that he was not sorry.
We can hang our harps on the grief tree.
- Isaiah 40:28–31
- The people of Israel had lost their joy; they had nothing to sing about.
- We must be prepared to sing, even during grief, as a witness to the world.
-Illustration: A Chinese pastor was forced to stir a cesspool of excrement while imprisoned, yet would sing while he worked. As a result, several other prisoners and some of his captors were converted.
- If we wait on the Lord, he will always give us a song.
We can hang our harps on the gripe tree.
- The people of Israel complained that God had gotten them into the mess they were in.
- If we wait on the Lord, he will give us fresh perspective on his character and new strength.
- Like the children of Israel, we have only to reaffirm what we know about God's Word for new life to grow.
We can hang our harps on the grudge tree.
- The Israelites wanted renewal without repentance; they wanted revenge on their captors.
- If there is a spirit of revenge in our hearts, we will lose our joy.
- If you wait on the Lord, he will lift you above an attitude of vengeance.
We can hang our harps on the wishing tree.
- The people of Israel were homesick for their homeland.
-Illustration: Briscoe uses her own nostalgia for England as an example.
-Illustration: A missionary kid, though homesick herself, spent her nights at boarding school comforting other children.
- If we wait on the Lord, he will give us a song to sing and the power and will to sing it.
We can hang our harps on the worry tree.
- Whether it be false or real, all guilt belongs at the foot of the cross.
- Illustration: Briscoe provides an acrostic on the word, "wait," to help her listeners remember important steps toward trust and renewal.
- Illustration: Briscoe provides a brief poem about laying your cares before the Lord.
We can hang our harps on the wimp tree.
- The Israelites were scared of the Babylonians.
- You cannot wait on the Lord and not feel what he feels for the world; when you wait on him, you begin to resemble him.
- Illustration: By waiting on the Lord, George Verwer was inspired to smuggle Bibles into Mexico and India.
We can choose to wait on the Lord.
- Which tree did you lose your joy on?
- Come close enough to be forgiven, and stay close enough to be strengthened.
- If you wait on the Lord, you will be like him and will make a difference until he comes.
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