Philippians 3:1  In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord. To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. (CSB)

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Calling to mind what we have to rejoice about in Christ is a safeguard for our souls. Jesus said in John 16:20-24 that the joy to come will overwhelm any sorrow we experience now.

“Truly I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice. You will become sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain because her time has come. But when she has given birth to a child, she no longer remembers the suffering because of the joy that a person has been born into the world. So you also have sorrow now. But I will see you again. Your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy from you. In that day you will not ask me anything. Truly I tell you, anything you ask the Father in my name, he will give you. Until now you have asked for nothing in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭20‬-‭24‬ ‭CSB‬‬

He also said this in 16:33:

“I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. You will have suffering in this world. Be courageous! I have conquered the world.”
‭‭John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬ ‭CSB‬‬

The safeguard that protects our hearts and minds in times of trouble, in the challenging seasons of life, is the joy to come. Labor and delivery is no fun, or so I have observed. Holding a precious little one afterward, however, unleashes tears of joy. 

Hebrews 12:2 tells us, “For the joy that lay before him, he endured the cross, despising the shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Although elusive at times, Joy is the language of heaven. It shapes every song. It reverberates through the breeze. It animates our souls. 

Joy calls to us beyond our pain and problems. It promises the truth we will all see fulfilled when all the goodness of God is poured out upon us all. 

Joy pleasantly invades our days now. It is the cause behind a pleasant hum, the reason for a soaring song. Joy is evidence of more beauty, wonder, and praise beyond the unpleasantness of our days. It can sing in the dark because it knows there is a new day coming.

The protector of our souls is the joy of the Lord, our strength. 

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I will anticipate the joy to come by expressing the joy that is already mine in Christ.

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Our Father, deepen our stores of joy as a safeguard against the hurt and harm of the days in which we live. Keep us looking up to you and beyond our pain. May we hum and sing and smile because of the deep well of your goodness within our hearts. Amen.