Trusting God's Plan

Victory Through Worship and Surrender

Jehoshaphat, the king of Judah, is a remarkable figure in the Bible known for his deep reliance on God during times of crisis. When faced with a vast army threatening his kingdom, Jehoshaphat didn’t turn to military strategy or human wisdom. Instead, he sought the Lord, proclaiming a fast and gathering the people to pray. His humble prayer in 2 Chronicles 20:12, “We have no power to face this vast army… but our eyes are on You,” reveals a profound faith in God’s power to deliver.

 In response, God gave him assurance, “Do not be afraid or discouraged… For the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2 Chronicles 20:15). His story serves as a timeless reminder that when we turn to God in our helplessness, He fights our battles and brings us victory.

Psalm 46:10—"Be still and know that I am God"—echoes this same assurance. It is when we stop striving in our own strength that we come to realize the greatness of God's power and presence. Jehoshaphat’s victory didn’t come through military force, but through worship and trust in God. Likewise, when we face our own battles, whether external or internal, victory comes by surrendering to God’s power and trusting in His faithfulness.

Let this truth deepen your faith in God’s constant presence. Remember, the battle belongs to the Lord, and as we trust Him more, we will see His power more clearly in our lives.

Prayer:

Lord, help me to acknowledge my need for You in every battle I face. Teach me to be still and trust in Your power and faithfulness. I surrender my strength to You, knowing that You will fight for me and bring victory. Amen.

The Joyful Path: Inspired by The Weight of Glory

The Weight of Glory: A Reflection on Joy

Introduction

In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis explores the profound concept of joy as something far deeper than fleeting happiness. Joy, as Lewis describes, is a longing for something beyond ourselves—a glimpse of heaven, a foretaste of our eternal home. This chapter invites us to reimagine joy as both a gift and a calling.

Joy as Longing

For Lewis, joy is not simply an emotion but a signpost pointing to something greater. He writes, “Joy is the serious business of heaven.” This joy is a deep longing, a yearning for the divine beauty and glory we were created to experience. It is not found in material possessions or earthly achievements but in our relationship with God.

Lewis uses the imagery of a child longing for a distant memory or a fleeting moment of beauty to describe the nature of joy. This longing is not despair but a recognition that our deepest desires can only be fulfilled in God. Joy, then, becomes a reminder that we are made for something more—eternity with Him.

The Paradox of Joy

Lewis also addresses the paradox of joy: it is both an ache and a delight. The ache comes from recognizing that we are not yet where we belong; the delight comes from the glimpses of God’s glory we experience here on earth. These moments of joy are like rays of light breaking through the clouds, giving us hope and strengthening our faith.

Lewis challenges us to see these moments not as ends in themselves but as echoes of heaven. He writes, “The books or the music in which we thought the beauty was located will betray us if we trust to them; it was not in them, it only came through them, and what came through them was longing.” Joy is never about the object; it is about the One who gives it.

Joy as Our Destiny

Ultimately, Lewis reminds us that joy is our eternal destiny. In heaven, we will experience the fullness of joy as we bask in the glory of God. The weight of glory is not a burden but an invitation to step into the radiant presence of our Creator. As Lewis concludes, “We do not want merely to see beauty… we want to be united with the beauty, to pass into it, to receive it into ourselves.”

Application

As we reflect on Lewis’s words, we are invited to:

• Seek joy in God, not in fleeting pleasures.

• Look for glimpses of heaven in our everyday lives.

• Trust that our longing will be fulfilled in eternity.

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You for the gift of joy that points us to Your glory. Help us to recognize the glimpses of heaven You give us each day and to find our ultimate delight in You. May our longing lead us to deeper trust and hope in Your eternal promises. Amen.

Further Reading

• The Weight of Glory by C.S. Lewis

• Surprised by Joy by C.S. Lewis

• Psalm 16:11: “In Your presence is fullness of joy.”

• John 15:11: “I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. ”

Deus Caritas Est