WITH THE AFFLICTION COMES JOY
Those who mourn for sin in the church and discern the errors that are committed in it receive the nickname of prophets of calamities. Many who know them say: "I do not like being near them. They sound negative and bad-tempered, and they look very sad. "But those spectators simply do not know those people who cry. They do not understand that those who truly grieve with God receive a heart that leaps with joy in Jehovah.
Although the fig tree does not bear fruit, nor is there any provision in the vines; even if the olive product is missing, and the fields do not give sustenance; even if the herds are removed from the fold, and there are no herds in the pens; Even so, I will leap for joy in Jehovah. I will exult in the God of my salvation. Jehovah my Lord is my strength.
Habakkuk 3: 17-19, Hebrew version of Spurrell.
Source
That joy comes from knowing that God will always have a pure ministry, through a holy and separated people, even in the days of greatest evil. That people will know that God is going to honor him with his constant presence. Her strength draws her out of faith in the majesty and power of God, whose judgments are always just. With Habacuc, people are able to say:
"Even if all else fails, my heart will rejoice only in God." Even when failure seems to surround them on all sides and they see little evidence of fruit, their pain gives way to an ecstasy of joy because they are close to the heart of the Lord. And, like Paul, that suffering remnant can say: "As saddened, but always joyful; as poor, but enriching many; as having nothing, but possessing all "(2 Corinthians 6:10).
It seems that Samuel had little joy during the disastrous reign of Saul, the chosen king, because he continued to mourn for him (1 Samuel 15:35). Finally, the Lord told him:
"How long will you mourn for Saul, since I have rejected him from reigning over Israel?
Fill your horn with oil, and come, I will send you to Jesse of Bethlehem, for I have provided myself a king for his sons "(1 Samuel 16: 1). It was, of course, young David, a man who was the shepherd of Israel "according to the integrity of his heart" (Psalm 78:72) and which was the prefiguration of the Messiah.
Indeed, it is David's words that encourage us to believe that sharing God's pain will rejoice. Speaking of his treasure of experiences as someone who was hungry for the Lord, David said: "At night the weeping will last, and in the morning joy will come"
(Psalm 30: 5)
So be it for the hungry people of today! May our hunger lead us to the room of prayer to share the affliction of God, and to the body of Christ to share his joy.
In which you rejoice greatly, though now, for a little while if necessary, you are afflicted with various trials, 7 so that the trial of your faith, more precious than the gold that perishes, though tested by fire, may be found it results in praise, glory and honor in the revelation of Jesus Christ;
But then he introduces two words that are not easy to receive "although now", I know you know that sweet bitter feeling, the "although now" are not very welcome. Like when your mom says, "Yes, you can go to the walk, but now you'll have to clean your room." "Yes, you can talk to that boy, although now they can only be friends." It's as if the "even now" will try to conspire with our immediate happiness. But this one is different from all the others, this "although now" produces a joy that can not be found anywhere else.