“You are from God, little children, and you have conquered them, because the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” — 1 John 4:4

The Source of Joy

Athletes are portrayed to be maleficent humans who are perfectly made. But they all go through emotional and difficult times. Recently, athletes like DeMar DeRozan and Kevin Love have said they struggle with depression or anxiety. If most of us were honest, we have the same struggles. But just because athletes have success and money, we think that is enough for them to not struggle. We judge them — as though real joy in this world only comes from being famous and having money.

Where does our joy come from? 

Is it from Jesus, and the fact that we are saved and secured for an eternity with Him? Or do other things creep in? We are so blessed just to have a home, food, clothes and an opportunity to better ourselves. There are persecuted churches all over the world, and countries that are suffering from famine. But as motivational speaker Eric Thomas has said, “You’ve got a lot on your plate?!” Do we really?

We daily do battle spiritually to remember what Christ has and will do for us, compared to the distractions this world brings through Satan. This world has so much to offer us, there is no question. But is it worth chasing after that job, status or person if it gets in the way of the One who is greater than the world? No way! Enjoy Him!

Let us not see others through a worldly lens, or we will look down on them just like people did with DeMar and Kevin. That is our sinful nature, that spiritual battle, but in these moments remember who is in you. When we struggle, we want to be looked at as Jesus sees us. Let us do the same for others when they struggle.

“No one sees a Pharisee in themselves, but we all have one. It comes out to play when other people break our favorite rules. And make no mistake, we all have our favorite rules. We all suffer from willful blindness.” — Beth Moore

— Reid Carper