“The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10)
Happiness is a feeling that is fleeting and based on circumstances.
Joy is..
Joy is… feeling hopeful in situations where there seems to be none.
Joy is… when I got the call that my brother died and all my soul could do was sing praises to the Lord.
Joy is… an internal never-ending deeper feeling than happiness.
Recently, I ran into my best friend’s mother in the grocery store. We asked each other how we are doing and started chatting away. After saying that I have been doing great and updating her on life she then asked me, “Are you ever sad?” and we both just laughed it off and continued on catching up.
Of course I have moments where I am sad, frustrated, annoyed, overwhelmed, tired, hurt, content, unsure, doubtful etc.
But that’s all they are, moments. I do not allow life circumstances to dictate my joy.
I choose to live by joy.
Even when I am sad or overwhelmed or whatever emotion there is, there is still a foundation of joy. That joy comes from Jesus. There are many people who know who Jesus is and have a relationship with him. However, they unfortunately, don’t have joy. They let the circumstances around them prohibit them from experiencing true everlasting joy.
I wrote this whole post, deleted it, rewrote it, and let it sit for a few days. I just couldn’t figure out how to explain Joy. I couldn’t figure out the words to explain how I choose to accept the joy that Jesus gives us and use that as my foundation for my life. I couldn’t find a way to express how there are people who lead their life with the would have, should have, could have been circumstances and how we should be leading our life with joy.
Then, I realized that I couldn’t put it into words because joy is simple. Joy is Jesus. And if you are reading this and feel that you are in a never ending pit and would do anything to feel joy- the answer is Jesus. Maybe, you have known Jesus for a long time. Maybe, you have been discouraged by so many things around you and knowing Jesus during those times makes it harder to believe anything will change. Knowing Jesus and Living Jesus are two different things. Knowing what the Bible says, what Jesus teaches, and attending a service every week for years, where you show up and leave is vastly different than Living Jesus. Living Jesus is living out what he teaches, praying that over your life and your families life. Choosing to wake up everyday and give it to Jesus. Allow Jesus to enter in those hard circumstances and pray life over them. Choosing Joy is choosing Jesus.
I love receiving messages from those who read my posts. So if you are someone who wants to feel true Joy, please message me. I would love to chat and most of all-pray for joy over you. I mean it. I don’t tell people that I pray for them and not do it.
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