UNPACK This...Finding Lasting JoySample

“I’m Not Going to Let Anything Steal My Joy”

In 2023, the Clemson football team's season got off to a rocky start, as the Tigers were 4-4 after eight games.

During his weekly radio show, head coach Dabo Swinney had some stern words for a caller who insinuated that the coach's incompetence played a significant role in the letdown.

At his weekly press conference, Swinney said, "I'm not going to let anything steal my joy of what I do. It doesn't mean I'm happy, but I've got a lot of joy in what I do."

As difficult as the season was for Swinney, I appreciate his acknowledgment that the struggles wouldn't take away the joy he finds in coaching.

For followers of Jesus, joy is something that God has promised to all people who trust in Him and walk by His Spirit (Galatians 5:22).

Yet sadly, for many of us, our joy is "stolen" when we wrongly decide to focus our attention more on our circumstances than on rejoicing in Jesus and the salvation we have through Him.

In his first epistle, the Apostle Peter wrote to a group of believers experiencing extreme suffering. But instead of having them focus on their sufferings, Peter wanted them to keep their minds focused on their relationship with Christ and the blessed hope awaiting them in eternity.

He explained in 1 Peter 1:6-9 (ESV), "In this, you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

"Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe in Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."

Today, let's meditate on what awaits us in heaven and find joy in the unchangeable and unshakable salvation we've received in Christ.

I'm Matt Osborne, and you can UNPACK that!

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank you for the salvation You've given me and the inheritance awaiting me. I know I'm not deserving of the many blessings I've received. Please help me find joy in You and not focus on the circumstances of life. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.