Concerning Romans 12:15 do you find it hard to rejoice?

Question

Romans 12:15 sayd to rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.

There are times I find it hard to rejoice for others when they received things that they have wanted and I have not been given that oppurtunity to.

When God closed the door for my husband and I to have children all of a sudden everyone was getting pregant around me and getting swarmed with attention. This was not easy for me as I was told that if I followed God I would be blessed.

We are living with family until we moved and everyone of my friends and family have a nice home and I have found it hard to rejoice for them at times.

What are godly ways have you been able to rejoice with others even though they have gotten everything they wanted and you didn't?

Thank you in advnace for your answers and God bless you.

Answer 1

When my wife and I were hoping to have kids, and it seemed to be taking such a long time, friends around us were having children - yes, it was easy enough to rejoice with them, except when someone would say: "Don't worry, your turn will come", or: "What's the matter with you guys? when will you have kids?" That hurt - really hurt. And at the time, I wasn't emotionally equipped to confront the person and say what he was doing to us.
When that wasn't happening though, it was really fun to get involved with other people's joy - because I was praying for them and hoping for them. We used to have weekly prayer meetings especially to p ray for the children, and we would include praying for those children that were on the way. If someone asked specifically for prayer because they wanted to have children and couldn't, they were prayed for. Otherwise, they were not prayed for in the group, but in private.
May the Lord grant you the desire of your heart.
EDIT:
I am frankly sceptical when someone says: "joy comes from the lord, so it's not hard". It just doesn't go with what I read in my Bible. Life is not easy!

Answer 2

We are all giving gifts--some are to have opportunity to share and console others. I lost a baby and within the next year I had several times that I could encourage and console another mother who lost her baby--some I knew and some I just had a passing time with--but each one knew that I had been where they were and that God had comforted me through another one who had also been where I was. In that same year several friends also had babies--pretty healthy ones--some that were prayed for and some that were not even wanted (how I would have taken them off their hands in a heartbeat!) After numerous losses I stopped telling people--it was hard to take the sadness it caused those who wept with me.

I think God put these two together for a good reason--when good happens--do not be jealous but be happy that someone has prospered. When there is misfortune do not gloat but be empathetic. A true friend can do these things but a false friend will be angry in your joy and ignore you in pain.

God does not promise us children--but He did promise never to leave us. God did not promise us fancy housing on earth--but promises us mansions in Heaven.

Ask God to give you the feelings that will go with your actions and practice being happy for others and empathetic in their pains.

And know that the outside is not always the inside--it might look like they have 'everything' but they might be missing some of the joy that you have.

Answer 3

God bless you and give you strength. Don't give up trying, write a list of what you are thankful for, praise God even when you do not feel like it. Praise God that you have been blessed with a husband and with family. You do not have to live a fake happiness 24/7, but be prepared to uplift others happiness when your own is lacking.
Some hymns that I thought of:
"Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine. O what a foretaste of Glory divine. Heir of salvation, purchase of God. Born of his Spirit, bought by his blood. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my savior all the day long. This is my story, this is my song, Praising my savior all the day long" There is a cause for praise, enough to praise God not just for a day, but for all eternity in heaven. There is also cause for mourning, remember the beatitudes, but praise is bliss.

"Crown him with many crowns..." This is not what the song is about, but it occurred to me that it is not just gold that Christ is crowned with. Do not be afraid to turn over your crown of sorrow to him, not just your crown of Praise.

"It is Well With my Soul" This hymn is excellent, and the story behind it is also good. check out this link: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/t/i/itiswell.htm

I hope that God can speak through this somehow.

Answer 4

What you have to understand is that God has a reason for everything. If He doesn't want you to have children then go adopt some. While your at it, be happy for your friends who are pregnant. Maybe God won't let you have children yet because He wants you to depend on Him. Try praying and asking why He won't let you. you'll be surprised. My mom was told she couldn't have kids either. She prayed and well here I am.

Answer 5

rejoice means not to be jealous and accept what God has given you, even if you can't see it now. for God has given you life and time to meditate and immerse yourself in His Word. be thankful for what He has given you. i know that this is sometimes hard to do, but, endure and know that our God will bring you joy in the morning as Ps. 30:5 states. and remember that God's standard of time is not the same as ours. for the verse says that weeping comes in the night and joy in the morniing. your morning may be in the midnight hour, when you least expects it. but, do know that it is coming for God has stated it in His Word and He is not a contradictory God of His own Word.
may God Bless you to see what He has already Blessed you with.
(a bed to sleep in, a place out of the weather, food to eat, clothes to wear, the ability to read, to have a place to seek comfort when needed from another human-(He knows that we are tactile and need touch from one another at times)-He knows that we are in the flesh and thus can not be perfect, just look around,see the sky, just look straight up and see the clouds).
be thankful for what you have , does not mean not wanting more.
He knows us better than we know ourselves. that's why He came to earth and shedded innocent blood for us.

Answer 6

If you follow God you will be blessed but it is God's blessings that are bestowed upon us, not always what we believe we should have. Continue reading all of Romans 12 and don't just concentrate and obsess over one verse of it.

Answer 7

at times

but to say no not most of them, why, because of the fruits of his Spirit,
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

there is love, joy and peace, with that how could it be hard?

Answer 8

Yea, sometimes....usually because I am jealous or skeptical about something.