Basilea Schlink teaches that true joy and divine blessing are found by embracing life's burdens and crosses as gifts from God, saying 'You are my joy' to every trial.
In this devotional sermon, Basilea Schlink encourages believers to find joy and divine strength through embracing life's crosses and burdens as gifts from God. She shares a powerful example of a man of God who discovered personal blessing by accepting interruptions and difficulties with the phrase 'You are my joy.' Schlink reveals that true happiness and a deep relationship with Jesus are found only by walking the pathway of the cross.
Full Transcript
God lives and works today, but that doesn't mean that He automatically frees His children from the difficulties, sufferings, and crosses of life. On the contrary, we can experience His help and aid right in the midst of our difficulties. For in our suffering and cross, there is a wonderful treasure to be found, a joy that will never end.
Listen to the following meditation by Besselia Schlink called, You Are My Joy. You are my joy, You are my joy, You are my joy, You are my joy, You are my joy, You are In the cross lies hidden glory. In the cross lies hidden strength.
In the cross lies hidden victory. In the cross lies hidden bliss. But who experiences what's hidden in the cross? Recently, someone told me about a real man of God to whom people streamed day after day asking for advice.
So many people came searching for help and comfort that he was left no peace at all. Every time he wanted to do something else, the doorbell would ring. It wasn't easy for him.
But one day, he discovered a great personal blessing in his burden, this cross that had been laid upon him. How did he come across this hidden treasure? Every time someone stood at his door with a request, the man would whisper to himself, You are my joy. And because in doing so, he accepted the person or task as being sent from the Lord, he actually became joyful.
Furthermore, every person who came to him was touched by his divine joy. It's a good recipe for everyone who has a lot of work to do and who's always been interrupted and asked to do something else. Whatever comes upon you as a burden or a cross, say to it in your heart, You are my joy.
Perhaps you don't know how to get everything done on time. Or someone asks you to take on still another responsibility. Then say to your burden, You are my joy.
Or you come home at night dead tired only to find still more work waiting for you. You are my joy. Through the cross, Jesus will open his heart to us.
There's no greater treasure to be had on earth, for this relationship is supreme happiness. However, we can find this treasure only along the pathway of the cross. That is, when we accept burdens and difficulties as coming from the Lord, and when we say to them, You are my joy.
This is the only way. Who doesn't want this wonderful treasure that Jesus would open up his heart to us? You have been listening to a program written by Basilea Schlink of the Little Land of Canaan. To learn more about how God lives and works today, visit us at our website, www.canaan.org. That's K-A-N-A-A-N dot org.
If you contact us, we would be happy to send you a free inspirational booklet. If you do not have access to the web, please contact this radio station for our postal address. God bless you.
Sermon Outline
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I
- God works today amidst our difficulties
- Suffering is not automatically removed
- Help and aid come in the midst of trials
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II
- The cross holds hidden glory, strength, victory, and bliss
- Joy is found by embracing the cross
- Example of a man of God who found joy in burdens
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III
- Accepting burdens as sent from the Lord
- Saying 'You are my joy' to every trial
- This acceptance brings divine joy and blessing
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IV
- The cross opens Jesus’ heart to us
- This relationship is supreme happiness
- Joy is a treasure found only through the cross
Key Quotes
“In the cross lies hidden glory. In the cross lies hidden strength.” — Basilea Schlink
“Whatever comes upon you as a burden or a cross, say to it in your heart, You are my joy.” — Basilea Schlink
“There's no greater treasure to be had on earth, for this relationship is supreme happiness.” — Basilea Schlink
Application Points
- When facing difficulties, consciously accept them as sent by God and declare 'You are my joy' to find peace.
- View interruptions and additional responsibilities as opportunities for divine blessing rather than burdens.
- Remember that true joy and strength come through the cross and trusting in Jesus’ heart opened to us.
