Joy and happiness are two very different things. Happiness can be based on our circumstances and can be very fleeting. You have it one day and the next day it’s gone.
Joy, on the other hand, is more deeply rooted. No matter how hard life gets we can still experience joy. We can still have peace despite the storms, the hurts, and the disappointments in our life.
The word joy isn’t even used very much today. It’s all about being happy. Happiness has proven to be temporary. Only joy is long-lasting, but how many people are truly experiencing it?
God says He wants His joy to be in us. Then we will be complete. (John 15:11) What does that really look like? Overflowing, spilling out, bountiful joy in your life?
I want this kind of joy, don’t you? Why does it seem so far away at times?
Have you ever asked yourself that question? I have. Many times….especially when joy hasn’t paid me a visit in a long time. When the disappointments and hurts are crushing my heart and spirit, and joy seems like a thing of the past, I forget the promise of His joy.
As women how do we get deeply rooted, and be steadfast the next time disappointment and hurt comes our way? Because it’s inevitable. As long as we are alive and breathing and living in a broken world, joy can seem hard to grasp. I’m ready to dig in my heels and fight for what God says is mine. Sometimes that can be a hard battle, but it is so worth it to experience deep abiding joy.
What is stealing your joy?
Relationships with family, friends, spouses, etc? We have all placed expectations on people without admitting it, and when those expectations aren’t met we get hurt and disappointed over and over again. We can put up walls if we’re not careful, making it hard for anyone to hurt us again. The walls feel safe and protective for ourselves, but that’s what the enemy of our souls would have us do. The hurt becomes the focus and we get our eyes off of God in the process.
Protecting your emotional health is important, and there are times when a distance is needed so healing can take place in your soul. In the meantime, be praying for those who hurt you and asking God to do what only He can do in their lives. We place them in God’s hands and trust Him for the outcome.
Financial worries, health issues, and stresses in life can make us focus on all that is lacking and wrong with us. Anxiety sets in and joy is nowhere to be found.
God wants to be your peace, your provider and your healer.
Social media can steal your joy real quick if you let it. If it makes you feel angry, anxious, envious, and hopeless, it is stealing your joy. Putting some disciplines in place might be needed with phone time. Listen to your body when you are on social media, it will let you know how you are feeling when scrolling and reading those feeds. If you are feeling defeated afterwards, your joy just got stolen.
Let God be your reality.
Take a break from social media and read God’s Word instead. Let your soul be filled with the promises that He has spoken over your life and let joy take root in your soul.
How can you experience joy?
- Take God at His Word and ask Him to bring joy into your life.
- Settle for nothing less than God’s best for you.
- Read His Word. Especially on the promises of joy.
- Pray for those who have disappointed and hurt you.
- Write down a few things every night that you are grateful for.
- Memorize a couple of verses on joy and repeat them when life is hard.
Despite what you are feeling and your circumstances, joy is possible. It’s a supernatural joy from God that the world could never give you. It’s not based on anyone or anything, but on Christ alone.
Let Him remind you today how much He loves you and show you what true joy looks like lived out with Him.
Until next time,
~pat
