“Glad” is being pleased, delighted, and causing happiness (Oxford Languages, Google). Gladness should be as big a part of the Christian attitude and demeanor as any other attribute of being Spirit-filled. The scripture says this is the day the Lord hath made; We will rejoice and be glad. (Ps 118:24). Ps 122:1 also states I was glad when they said unto me, let us go into the house of the LORD. What happens when we wake up, and the gladness is no longer present? How am I to respond when going to the house of the LORD is a chore and not a joyful celebration?
I will admit there are times when we feel depleted and disconnected. Sometimes, a specific event or person has triggered your frustration. Some people cast the blame for all their problems on God. Job said, “But now he hath made me weary: Thou hast made desolate all my company” (Job 16:7). In Job’s case, God did allow satan to “consider” him, but to what purpose? Job had many questions, but he never sinned or charged God foolishly (Job 1:22). The end of the matter has Job receiving twice as many possessions, but the lesson he learned is in Job 42:5-6, “I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: But now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself and repent.”
At some point, everyone has wondered why bad things happen to good people. We feel the circumstance is unwarranted or undeserved. When faced with difficult times, our devotion to spiritual disciplines should increase. I am not saying that it is an easy thing to do, but we cannot see the big picture. We need the Holy Spirit to reveal it to understand the plan and the purpose at work, should it choose. Though it may feel like it, you will not go through this alone. Keep praising in times that lack “feeling.” God will bring you through, and He may have something better for you on the other side.
Jesus allowed Lazarus to die for an object lesson! John 11:15 says, “And I am glad for your sakes that I was not there, to the intent ye may believe:” Ellicott’s Commentary states, “There is the assured consciousness of power over death itself, which sees as present all that is to follow and sees in the strengthening of their faith ground for joy. They were already disciples, but this sign would be the vehicle of a higher spiritual truth to them, and the growth of their spiritual life would be such that it may be regarded as a new act of faith.” These men followed Jesus every day during His ministry. Could it be that hearing, they did not hear or understand? Did they hear but not listen? If you can call a literal death a trial, this particular trial was not their own. With nothing personally at stake and observing from the sidelines of the situation, Jesus had something to show them. Witnessing the miraculous, first-hand, will burn the experience upon your soul and live within you as a testimony for all time.
Galatians 5:22-24 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” The passions and desires of our sinful nature must brought to the cross. John called the Pharisees vipers and told them to bring forth fruit of repentance. What were they missing? They lacked a cross. In Hebrews 12:2, during His most arduous “actual” trial, Jesus completed writing the masterpiece that He began from the foundation of the world “for the joy that was set before him.” This example does not diminish your experience. What you are going through and enduring is very real. Jesus was God in the flesh, knowing the end from the beginning. If we could see how everything is supposed to turn out, we would pull up our bootstraps and charge toward the outcome. Jeremiah 29:11 states that the Lord thinks thoughts of peace towards us to give us an expected end. However, Jesus told Thomas, “Blessed are they that have not seen, and yet believed.”
There are more definitions of “glad,” grateful, willing and eager (to do something). Being content and thankful in all situations is crucial. Not only that, but getting involved in the Kingdom’s purpose will motivate you to elevate your spiritual disciplines to become more effective. Helping someone else is addictive and brings joy, even amid your pain. When they gain an understanding, the look on someone’s face is truly priceless. Rejoice with them in compassion, and the fruit of joy will fill your heart.
Finally, bad things may happen to good people, but good things also happen. There are sayings such as “It rains on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45) and “When it rains, it pours.” These sayings signify that things are not always going your way. It is funny that we use rain in these contexts because though rainy days are gloomy and sometimes scary, rain brings fresh water, helps the plants grow, and tempers the entire atmosphere after a day’s heat. Again, we do not see the big picture, but God works it out behind the scenes. One day, we can look back and see what God has brought us through and the lesson that caused us to blossom into the person we are today.