JOY TO THE WORLD

”I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.“

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭9‬:‭2‬ ‭NLT‬‬

‬‬I don’t know about you, but the holidays this year haven’t felt the same. Healing doesn’t always feel good. I won’t say that I’m numb because I can feel EVERY emotion during each holiday that would normally be spent with my family. However, in this process, God gave me a new perspective.

I was recently asked to make a list of things that made and make me happy. My initial response whenever I’m asked how I’m feeling is always “I’m grateful”. But this particular beautiful spirit challenged me and stated: “You have mastered grateful; now I need you to work on being happy”. I really had to think about that. I never want to seem ungrateful for the blessings God has given me by not seeming happy. But to be honest, I’m not happy. Again, healing doesn’t always feel good and it’s messy sometimes. But as I was making my list, I realized that there are many things that make me smile and give me JOY. For example, watching my children freely be themselves, random phones calls/texts just because I was laid on someone’s heart, unexpected gifts that only God knew would excite me and waking up with peace every morning.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

Nehemiah 8:10

Happiness is fleeting but the JOY of the Lord has been my strength. I can find a blessing in every circumstance because I know God is with me. Even in my tears because I know that I will reap in JOY (Psalm126:5). I may not be where I want to be at this moment, but God is testing my faith and growing me up. He’s maturing me in this season and preparing me for His purpose.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.  Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4

You can’t give what you don’t possess.

I HAVE JOY!

God’s great JOY down in my soul and He created me to spread His JOY.

In whatever season you are in, I pray that you will take this opportunity to draw near to the Father who WILL give you that same JOY. I pray that you will look at your circumstances with new lenses and find the gift that you can only experience in His presence.

You will show me the way of life,
    granting me the joy of your presence
    and the pleasures of living with you forever.

Psalm 16:11

I pray His peace overtake you as you overcome any and every obstacle. And I pray that once you possess God’s great JOY, that you too will spread it to the world.