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The follower of Jesus is not immune to the problems of this world. It is so easy for us to get caught up in the rat race of life. In the hustle and bustle of daily living, we can find ourselves exasperated and fall into the drudgery of living in this fallen world. It is in those days that it can become easy to lose the joy of our salvation. We forget the overwhelming feeling of being born again, of being free of sin, and the knowledge that we no longer must fear death and hell.

Where do you go to refresh your spirit? How do you break away from this world that wants to suck your joy right out of you? I would challenge us to go back in our minds to the beginning of our spiritual journey. Remember where we were before Jesus entered into our lives. Remember the hopelessness we once felt and how victory came in our souls the day we said yes to Christ. Go back to the beginning and allow the heart of thanksgiving to begin to swell up inside our frustrated and depressed spirit.

Isaiah helps us with this in chapter 12, verses 1-3, “Then you will say on that day, “I will give thanks to You, O Lord; For although You were angry with me, Your anger is turned away, And You comfort me. 2 Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the Lord God is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation.” 3 Therefore you will joyously draw water From the springs of salvation.”

When we go back to the time that we were enemies of God, He showed us grace and mercy. Now, in our darkest hours, He is there to bring us comfort. He makes us brave to face whatever the world will throw at us, because He is with us. We sometimes need to be reminded that we do not have to be afraid; we do not have to surrender to the hurt and pain that a fallen world brings. I love what verse three tells us, “Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.”

We need to remember what the Lord has freely given to us cannot ever be taken away or lost. The Lord God holds every one of His children in His mighty right hand, and no one, or anything, can pry us out of it. Then we can fulfill verse 4, “And in that day you will say, “Give thanks to the Lord, call on His name. Make known His deeds among the peoples; Make them remember that His name is exalted.”