Finding Joy

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16.11 (Italics mine)

Sometimes, life gets hard. Children get sick, money gets tight, discontent sets in. You start to play the comparison game with ‘The Jones’” and the next thing you know, your joy is gone. When we think of joy, I think we automatically think of happiness. For the most part, I do agree that when we find our Joy coming from the right source, there will be an overall happiness in our life. It doesn’t make life easy, but we don’t depend on our circumstances for happiness either.

I often struggle with the ‘emotion’ of joy. You see, when life gets tough, and it will, joy seems to be the first thing to go. Instead worry, fear, and anxiety often take it’s place. I elevate those feelings above the one thing that is firm and unchanging in my life.

I’m realizing more and more that this is not a problem with my circumstances. It is a problem with my heart. You see, in His presence is fullness of joy. When I allow my circumstances to dictate my day or emotions rule over me, I lose sight of where my joy comes from. Joy is more than a feeling or emotion. Joy comes from being in the Presence of the Almighty.

Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

When I see my joy is lacking I ask myself whether or not I have truly been in the Lord’s presence. I find joy in Him, if for no other reason, than the fact that He has saved me from my sins! There are certainly days I don’t feel joyful. Today, being one of them. When sickness reigns in our home, and especially if I have it, it seems to zap all my energy from me. I’m tired, and a bit cranky. I know, I know… I’m working on it! Sleep seems to beckon me from morning until I finally go to bed at night. It tends to steal my patience, and my joy. And when that happens, I know the Enemy has the upper hand. For he comes to steal!

And so today, with all the things I wanted to get done, I will set them aside, enjoy my children, rest and care for them and myself, and in the quiet times, seek the Lord. Enter into His presence. Find my Joy in Him instead of my current circumstances. Let us not give the Devil a foothold in any area of our life. No matter how insignificant it may seem.

What steals your joy? How do you overcome it? I’d love to hear your experiences and what helps you!

Blessings,