Read: 1 Thessalonians 1:2-6 

The people in Thessalonica had difficult things happening in their lives. Since they had become Christians, some of them may have lost their friends and even lost their jobs. And yet Paul says that they had joy! Isn’t that amazing to be able to have joy in these hard circumstances?

How were they able to be joyful while living in a difficult time? Verse 5 tells us that they received joy through the Word of God and through the Holy Spirit. To have joy is different than being happy. Sometimes when things are hard, you may not feel very happy, but do you know you can still have joy, even when you are not happy?

To have joy means to know that you are God’s precious child. As God’s child you know and believe with absolute certainty that the Lord Jesus Christ is your Saviour. You know that God is always caring for you. Then, if you are feeling scared, you can have joy in knowing that God will be with you. If you are sad, you can still have joy knowing that God is working in your life and keeping you close to him.

How do you get this joy? You get it in the same way as the Thessalonians received it. You must read and study God’s Word. It’s in there that you learn about God’s love, grace and forgiveness. We read about God’s care for his people. We also read about how holy God is, and that because of his holiness, he sent Jesus to pay for our sins so that we can be his beloved children.

This Word of God gives us joy when the Holy Spirit uses it to work in our hearts. The Holy Spirit reminds us of God’s Word and helps us to believe that Jesus died for us. He reminds us that we are God’s children.

So read the Bible every day. Think about what you are reading and ask the Lord to work with the Holy Spirit in you, so that you receive this joy!

Reflection with your child:

How can you have joy, even when things are difficult for you?