How Do I Find Joy?
Has there ever been a time in your life when you found yourself struggling in your circumstances? I seem to go through seasons, when the Lord is trying to teach me something and the ‘side-effects’ of the lessons leave me feeling as though I’ve been drug through the mud.
Over the past several months, our family has received trial after trial in terms of our physical health; not just colds, but disabilities, diseases and surgeries. Hard things. As I muddle through the challenges, God has been whispering in my ear, “Do you trust Me?”. Over and over, I hear that question and I have to honestly ask myself, “Do I really trust God?”. I want the answer to always be, “yes”!
Isaiah 61:10
I delight greatly in the Lord; my soul rejoices in my God. For He has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of His righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
No matter what is going on in my life, if I truly believe that God is in control, I can be joyful in the situation.
Psalm 32:7
You are my hiding place; You will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Romans 5:3-4
… we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Romans 12:12
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.
How do I find joy? I need to find God.
When I take my focus off God and rest it on myself, I lose sight of the very thing that gives me joy.
Hurt, discouragement, angst and unrest are all things that are overcome by God. It is no coincidence that the fruit of the Spirit include joy. Galatians 5:22-23
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice.
It is God’s will for me that I rejoice – that I have joy.
How do I find joy? I need to choose to trust God’s plan.
Many people confuse happiness with joy. Happiness is a temporal state of being based on whether or not we are pleased with what is going on around us. Joy, on the other hand, is a spiritual state of being, based on our relationship with God.
How do I find joy? I need to have relationship with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Psalm 94:19
When anxiety was great within me, Your consolation brought me joy.
How do I find joy? I need to follow God.
Psalm 119:14
I rejoice in following Your statues as one rejoices in great riches.
Malachi 4:2
But for you who revere My Name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays. And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.
How do I find joy? I need to allow God to be enough.
John 15:11
I have told you this so that My joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.