By Andrea Merrell
Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your
strength.
Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV
We hear songs about joy being “unspeakable
and full of glory” and peace that takes place “in the midst of a storm.” But
how can that be?
For years I searched for peace and happiness, but
my circumstances never lined up to produce what I needed. I would be content
and at peace one moment and fall apart the next as soon as something went
wrong. It was like living on a seesaw.
“Christians should be the most joyful people on
the planet,” came from the pulpit and the radio station. I agreed but couldn’t
find a way to maintain it.
That’s when God showed me the difference between happiness
and joy.
Happiness is deceptive. Fleeting. It depends on
what is going on around us. It can come and go as fast as a hummingbird looking
for food.
Joy, on the other hand, comes from inside. And it
comes from the Lord. As Sarah Young puts it in Jesus Calling:
Knowing me intimately is
like having a private wellspring of joy within you. this spring flows freely
from My throne of grace, so your joy is independent of circumstances. ~Jesus
How wonderful to know that the Lord fills us with
His very own love, peace, and joy. They’re ours. Gifts not to be taken for
granted.
In this midst of this difficult time, don't despair or be afraid. The joy of the Lord is your strength.
Ask Him to fill you to overflowing.
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