Book after book, page after page, the Bible gives us reasons to be joyful.
It may seem odd that Christianity’s chief emblem is the Cross, a symbol of suffering. But, in a higher sense, the Cross is the symbol of glorious victory. Faith in the Cross of Christ gives victory and cleanness and salvation.
So loving is the heavenly Father that we are not to be fearful and hesitant about life. “Don’t be anxious about anything; rather, bring up all of your requests to God in your prayers and petitions, along with giving thanks” (Philippians 4:6). Do this joyfully and lovingly and with true faith, and great things will come to you.
So great and meaningful is the sense of Christ’s presence that, when we have this greatest of all possessions, we will also have an awareness of spiritual power. Then we are ready to make that most astonishing affirmation: “I can endure all these things through the power of the one who gives me strength” (verse 13).
Christianity opens the way to joy and victory, and the secret is simply this: Live with Christ. Then, as the Apostle Paul says, “My God will meet your every need out of his riches in the glory that is found in Christ Jesus” (verse 19).
