Oil of Joy

I planned to write a blog in hopes that it would help someone that was mourning the loss of a loved one, especially during this time of pandemic where there has been a countless loss of life across the globe. While writing this blog I’ve had to deal with my own emotions of losing a loved one. I received one of those dreaded phone calls that leave you numb as the person on the other end delivers the horrible news; in this case, it was the news of the sudden death of one of my younger cousins. Therefore, I hope to find solace in my own words as I attempt to encourage you in whatever loss you may be experiencing. As followers of Christ, there is comfort in and through Him in which too often pain blinds us. Let’s get those scales of blindness off together.

There was a passage of scripture that I heard recently as I was listening to a podcast that struck a chord in me from Isaiah 61:3 and it is the verse” The joy of oil instead of mourning.” What a promise ringing from these words that we can all grasp on to during these difficult times. Whether we are experiencing where grief and holding in emotions that want to bubble over, mourning in which there are physical signs of sadness and despair, or maybe a combination of both, there is something we can hope to understand. We must realize this promise is a replacement, an exchange that can happen directly from God. 

Let’s look at what is in the exchange:

-We can be saturated by God’s joy-God’s joy is based on strength in His faithfulness. We must believe that He is continually working in our lives because He is devoted to loving us. If we focus on the stability of that love we can have contentment and confident hope to endure our losses and praise Him in the process. His joy will be complete in us because He holds us steady with amazing.

Psalm 16:11-

You will make known to me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy;

Romans 15:13-

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

-We can be filled with God’s peace-God’s peace is the right standing we have in Him through the life and resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are restored to God and that harmony is what can hold us together in our time of mourning. We are provided with peace of mind amid our heartache that comes directly from the throne of grace.  

Philippians 4:7

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 3:16 

Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!

John 14:27

Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.

–We can be comforted by God-God is the God of all comfort. “All” meaning He has the comfort to give for anything we are experiencing. We must look to Him and His word to find solace. Our souls can be soothed because He is near to the brokenhearted.

 2 Corinthians 1:3

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,

Psalm 34:18

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted And saves those who are crushed in spirit

The oil of joy instead of mourning is indeed obtainable and available. The choice is ours to tap into the wealth of that Oil through Jesus Christ. We can exchange our grief and mourning with inner joy, peace, and comfort. It’s certainly time for me to release my mourning for that amazing oil of joy. What about you? Let’s make the exchange!

BY: Rhonie McBerry

Rhonie is a licensed radiation therapist providing care to those battling cancer. She learned to embrace a new normal after being diagnosed with Crohn’s. disease and uses the power of words to encourage others to see past their darkest day to a brighter horizon. She is the author of Embracing a New Normal, God Has Drawn The Blueprints Vol I &II, Words That Surround Your Soul devotionals, and a host of blog posts on her website www.RhonieSays.com. Her hobbies include reading, photography, liturgical dance ministry, and eating sweets. Rhonie is the mother of two children and two granddaughters and she makes her home in Cincinnati, Ohio with her husband of 22 years.

Blogs by Rhonie

Oil of Joy

Capable