JOY……UNSPEAKABLE JOY!

Joy is something that each of us truly long for but it can be difficult to achieve at times.  As a Christian, experiencing joy should be a part of our lives because Joy is the fruit of the Holy Spirit that is produced by God’s work through us and it is God’s will for all of us to experience Joy.  So many times I have been asked how I can have so much Joy when going through these difficult times.  Well, I can truly say that my JOY comes from God. It comes when we submit to God’s peace that surpasses all other understanding and have faith in His word.  Peace = joy!  We have to focus on God and not dwell on the difficulties in life or the things that can rob us of our contentment…..Dwell on God instead.  This joy comes from knowing God and the assurance I have in Him.  I may not be happy that Addi has cancer but I have the Joy of the Lord knowing that regardless of the present circumstances, we have HOPE.  Faith brings trust, hope brings peace and with all of these, God brings joy.  Joy and happiness, though similar, the concepts are different.  Happiness is based on what is happening right now in our lives but joy is based on an assurance of a victorious future.  As soon as life gets hard, difficult times arise and pain invades our lives, we tend to lose our joy.  Joy is a gift that we receive from God that enables all who believe in Him to find peace and hope even when life begins to fall apart. When your faith is steadfast then no matter what the circumstances may be, your joy can be overflowing.

We sometimes think….when I find the perfect mate, then the joy will be overflowing.  When I get the new job, then I will have joy.  When I don’t have financial issues, then I will find joy.  When I am cured of this disease, then joy will follow.  Joy is not found in earthly things or circumstances but in the Lord and the peace that comes from knowing Him.  It is really a hard concept to grasp sometimes that you can truly have joy when your world is falling apart but it it comes from having a deep relationship with God and a lasting faith in God and His promises for our future.

In God’s presence you will find the joy and happiness you so desire. Through the Holy Spirit you will experience the deepest peace, the most sincere joy and the greatest love you have ever known.  It all just works together so as we produce faith it develops trust, as we trust it provides us peace and when we have peace it causes great joy.  The joy of the Lord truly is our strength.  Because God gives us His strength and His peace, we can have joy in all circumstances.  I am not going to say that it is easy but we can rest peace so that joy is present.  It takes work on our part and we must be grounded in His word to truly find Joy as the Holy Spirit works in us and through us.  Sadness surrounding the circumstances may still endure, but the joy of the Lord will get you through even the deepest pain and the most difficult of times.

Two things can happen….you can make the choice each day to reflect on your blessings, focus on the positive and to focus on the eternal aspects of joy or you can choose to succumb to the stress, anger and frustration and allow the Enemy to take your joy and your peace.  I choose JOY!  What are you going to choose?

Everyday I wake, the first thing I do is thank God for everything He has done in my life, in my kids/families lives and for allowing me one more day on this earth.  Gratitude, I believe has a lot to do with our joy.  Being thankful for all that we have and for all that God has done brings joy to the heart.  Stop focusing on what you don’t have, what you want life to be and just thank Him for what you have and for another chance to get it right and to live your fullest life in Him!  Let me tell you my life has been difficult but I choose joy over and over again because we have one life, one chance and one opportunity to enjoy this crazy, difficult, beautiful, blessed life God has given us.  Pour out your heart to God today and submit all of those things to Him that is stealing your Joy then remember who He is, what He will do and that He is in control of all things and just rest in His joy and peace.  We can and will experience Joy when we praise, pray and keep our focus on Him rather than our circumstances.  Let the Holy Spirit fill you, lead you, speak to you and fill your life with joy….unshakable JOY!

Bible verses to quote about Joy…..
Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

James 1:2-6
My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.

John 15:10–12
If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full. ‘This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Psalm 30:4–5
Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

Romans 15:13
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Nehemiah 8:10
…Do not sorrow, for the Joy of the Lord is your strength.

Prayer:  God I praise your for my strength that comes only from you.  I ask you to remove anything that may be taking my joy and fill me with your peace.  Help me to trust you with all circumstances so that I can experience Joy even when life is difficult.  I know that even though things are tough right now, you are in control and nothing I can do and none of my worrying will change the outcome.  I will accept the joy of the Lord right now and will share that Joy with all I come in contact with today so that they can see you living in me.  Thank you for my life and for working all things out for my good and for bringing to my heart joy….unspeakable joy.  Amen