Joy

•the direct effect of an excellent action, like the savor of a long task finally accomplished.

•must be earned, born of trials, of pain endured, of sufferings accepted with courage and with love.

•To be joyful is to experience perfection, to share in the divine nature; in some sense, to become like God

•Joy is the term we use to describe the best experiences of our lives

• It is God’s reward for a job well done

-->Joy is not in opposition to suffering: it is the outcome from successfully meeting its challenges

Pleasure cannot be mistaken for joy. it is:

• a brief and superficial sensation caused by contact with some exterior good

• It lasts only as long as that contact lasts

• Suffering is unpleasant by definition

  • The two cannot co-exist.

All suffering is for the purpose of showing the sufferer what to avoid thqt is counter to God's plan for us.  We always can benefit from it even if its primary reason is for the benefit of another.  This is true if we accept the suffering out of love for God and the sufferer, which is redemptive 

There are many ordinary ways to see that suffering leads to joy.

• Childbirth: Both mother and child suffer during the birthbut the result creates an intensely strong bond of love between them and the mother's joy will overwhelm even the harshest of deliveries.

• Parenting:  Every parent recognizes that there is sacrifice and suffering involved with raising a child, but most parents understand it as the most rewarding experience of their lives.

• Athletic Training. Athlete's regularly use the mantra: no Pain, no Gain to describe hhow suffering and persevering in pain is required to grow physically and win in their events.  Marathon runners come immediately to mind.

• People experience joy at completing any arduous task, whether it be graudating from school, completing a tough work project or even building a deck.This is because it takes fortitude and building virtue is causing spritual grow

​

Generally, it is good to share your suffering experience with those that ask or would benefit from your message since it comes from God and will benefit others. However, it is also sharing your suffering with them qnd if they cannot handle the burden, be considerate and keep it to yourself.

A care giver should recognize that people who suffer have 5 major concerns:Physical comfort, retaining a sense of purpose and social status, and have concerns about what the rest of their lives will be like and what will happen to them after death. They should be addressed in inverse order for the spiritual growth and joy for both the  caregiver and the sufferer. The caregiver should recognize that by negectiling any of them, they will cause suffering to increase.

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Suffering is directive and also diagnostic. If you are doing something tha causes suffering to you or others, desist and do what avoids it or better yet, do what aleviates suffering.