How to Find Joy and Peace in Life

Most of us are familiar with John 3:16 and God’s promise of everlasting life to those who believe in Jesus.  In John 10:10, Jesus stated that he came to bring us life, and life to the full.  When we think of this life that Jesus came to bring us, many people think it refers to the life God will give us one day after we die and go to heaven.  Yes, this is included in God’s statement, but He meant so much more.

Jesus was clear that once we accept Him as savior, the Kingdom of God, and everything it represents, already resides in us.  Luke 17:21.  And the Bible says that the Kingdom of God “is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 14:17.  God desires that your life be filled with peace and joy.  He has placed these deep within your heart.  Your job is to draw it out and cultivate it with God’s help.  I want to show you today six key ingredients to living the full life that Jesus came to give us.

THE FIRST KEY INGREDIENT IS SPEND TIME WITH GOD.  We spend time with God through reading His word and prayer, that is, simply talking to God and listening for His still small voice deep within.  Spending time with God affects the quality of our lives in many ways.  One such way is found in Philippians 4:5-7:

“5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

How often have we said “Oh well, I’ve done everything else, I guess all I can do now is pray.” Often times we forfeit the peace and joy that God has for us in any given situation because we do not take our issue to God first.  He has the answer.  Trust and rely on Him.

THE SECOND KEY INGREDIENT IS PERSONAL GROWTH.  We all have attitudes, behaviors and habits that are not Godly.  It is a result of being born sinful and living in a fallen world.  We will not live joyous and fulfilling lives and have healthy relationships until we get some of our bad habits and behaviors straightened out.  Romans 12:2 states:

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

How do we get straightened out?  By meditating on the Word of God as it will sanctify and cleanse us.  Ephesians 5:26.

THE THIRD KEY INGREDIENT IS TO SET GOALS AND WORK TOWARD SOMETHING NEW.  Note that in Genesis 1, each day God created something, at the end of the day He stood back and looked at it with satisfaction and said it is “good.”  It brought Him satisfaction and joy.

God created us like Himself, to be progressive and creative.  See Genesis 2:15 - “The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.”  Only when we are working toward a goal, will we find true satisfaction in life.  Galatians 6:4 makes this clear:

“But let each one examine his own work, and then he will have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”

THE FOURTH KEY INGREDIENT IS TO MAINTAIN HEALTHY PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS.  Proverbs 17:17 states:

“A friend is always loyal, and a brother is born to help in time of need.”

And Ecclesiastes 4:9-11 states:

“9 Two are better than one, Because they have a good reward for their labor.  10 For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.  But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up.  11 Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone?”

In times of trouble, we often isolate ourselves because we are ashamed that we are struggling.  This is a dangerous place to be.  We need people to whom we can be vulnerable, accountable and go to in time of need.

THE FIFTH KEY INGREDIENT IS SERVICE TO GOD AND OTHERS.  To live a fulfilled life, “it can’t all be about us.”  In fact, the Word of God instructs us to comfort others like we ourselves have been comforted by God.  Second Corinthians 1:3-4 states:

“3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. ”

God certainly rewards those who serve as He makes clear in Proverbs 11:25 that a generous person will prosper; a person who refreshes others will themself be refreshed.

Lastly, THE SIXTH KEY INGREDIENT IS REST.  Genesis 2:1, 2 states that God rested after creating all that exists.  He didn’t need to rest, because God does not get weary, nor need sleep.  See Psalm 121.  He was setting up a principle for us to follow.  Our natural bodies need rest or we will burnout and life will lose its joy.

I encourage you that if you are feeling tired and weary today take the key ingredients that I have shown you and examine your life and assess where you might be out of balance.  Most importantly, ask the Holy Spirit to show you.  As Him for His help.  He loves you so much.  He is more than ready to help you.  He desires that you be full of His joy and peace.  Remember, Jesus came that we might have life and have it to the full.