Joyful Endurance? Isn't that an Oxymoron?

In Paul's letter to the Colossians, he says that he is praying that they will have great endurance and patience while also giving "joyful thanks to the Father." Paul wrote this letter around the same time he wrote to the Philippians, a book known for its emphasis on joy. In that book, Paul wrote, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" So there's a pattern here of joyful patience and grateful endurance.

Ok, wait a second. This from a guy who had been beaten more than once; blinded; shipwrecked; forced to run for his life more than once; imprisoned--several times; brought before authorities to defend himself, several times; often worked full-time on top of his work as a minister so as not to undermine his message. To top it all off, he wrote the letters to the Colossians and the Philippians from prison (again!) in Rome where he knew the odds were against ever leaving. And he's saying to "give joyful thanks," to "rejoice in the Lord always"?

Is he serious? I don't know about you, but I'm definitely not that good!

My natural response to all of the above would be just about anything BUT joyful or thankful. Words like "ticked off," "scared beyond belief," and "ready to check out" come to mind.

But Paul does not leave us hopeless. He reminds us that the power to endure with joy does not come from within. You don't have pull yourself up by your joy britches. (whew!) In fact, the verse following his mandate to "rejoice!" in Philippians carries an important clue. "Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near."

It's all Him! He's doing the work. In 1 Corinthians 15:10 Paul says, "...His grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me." Similarly, in Colossians, Paul prays that the Colossians will be "strengthened with all power according to his glorious might." (my emphasis).

Don't despair if joyful endurance is an oxymoron to you and you think, "I can never do that." We can't. And we don't have to! We just have to ask God to do that in us, and we have to let go of our own agendas long enough to let him.

Isn't that just the best news you have heard all day? I don't relish the idea of tough times, but I'm encouraged to know that if God wants me to get through them with joy and thankfulness, He has the power to do that in me.