Joy

Joy in Christ. I call it “a scarlet assurance.” Moses could turn his fear to joy after he put the scarlet blood above the lintel and doorpost of the Jewish homes so the destroyer would not kill their firstborn. Rahab could rejoice, knowing that her family would be safe because of the scarlet thread she had tied in her Jericho window. And about the Proverbs 31 woman, we read, “She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household is clothed with scarlet” (v. 21).

Nehemiah and the Israelites had their work cut out for them in everything the wall would defend them from in the days ahead. But they took time out to rejoice, look back on what God had done, and then be confident for what lay ahead. That’s why they took time out to rejoice.

When I was a single mom, I encountered some grave, rebellious days with one of my children. As I prayed about these challenges, I pictured the roof of our house painted scarlet red. I imagined God looking down and pouring out His blessings and keeping curses away from all the scarlet roofs He found. When I gave my needs back to Him, life no longer seemed so overwhelming.

So how can you and I be joyful, even when tough times surround us? How can we rejoice when the future looks bleak? We can be joyful because of scarlet assurance. Jesus spilled His scarlet blood on Calvary’s cross so that you and I can have not only eternal life but also abundant life. That’s a reason to be joyful!

Lynda Hunter-Bjorklund

Taken from Women of Faith Devotional Bible