Finding the Joy

Joy. Pure relentless joy. 

That is the joy that God is calling us to have.

Joy that doesn't fail and is always available. 

Seeking joy is hard. Sometimes it might even seem impossible during the darkest days.

Joy is there though. You just need to drive yourself hard enough to find it. 

Sometimes the simple things in
life bring you the most joy. 

                            Remembering to seek joy is easy, but do you want to seek joy?

For me, I sometimes feel guilty seeking joy if something bad is going on. I feel like someone else might think I don't care or am too proud or too good for that bad thing. -- That's why it is so hard for me, personally, to try to find joy in everyday life.

That's not the way God wants it to be though... God specifically says in Romans 12:12, "Be joyful always."

That is so hard to do. Especially when it seems like your world is crumbling beneath your very feet. When your life seems to be spinning out of control... God still says, "Be JOYFUL."

Joyful of what? What has God given me that I should be joyful about? -- God has given you so much. It's just your job to learn how to find it and then be filled with gratitude.

Someone once told me something that I have clung to ever since I heard it...
"As long as a person is still alive, their purpose on earth isn't done yet."  

We should be excited! We still have a purpose!!

As long as you are still on this earth, God's purpose for you isn't done yet. You are special. Irreplaceable.
LOVED.

Even during your darkest days, you are loved. When you feel alone, know that you aren't alone. When you feel defeated, know that you still have hope. When you feel worried, know that it will work out.

God has your life in his hands. He has always walked before you. Prepared the way. You will have decisions, but God will be with you every step of the way. He loves you, my child.

God has clothed the flowers with beauty, how much more will
he take of us, his best creation? 

Matthew 6:25-34 talks about worrying. Verse 25 says, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life. What you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food , and the body more important than clothes?" 

Jesus goes on by comparing the flowers of the field and saying, "If that is how God clothes the grass of field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you?" 

Let go and let God. Don't worry. Worrying doesn't add you to your life, it only stresses you out more.
It makes you panic and want to take your life into your own hands instead of letting God do his job.

Worrying also takes away the joy that God tells us to find. If you're worrying, how can you realize what you have already been given? You can't. You get lost in traps of Satan.

Finding the joy in your daily life is what is inspiring. When you start realizing how blessed you are, you start acting differently too. It's not pride to be joyful. You're just training yourself a different way of living.

A way of living that changes the way you think.

Seeking joy is a way that challenges everything you think you want, and reminds you of the things God has already given to you. 

To all my readers: I am praying for you. Praying that you will learn to find the joy in the simple thing ordinary things. Praying that through whatever struggles you are facing, that you will feel the hand of God moving over you. Praying that you will show Jesus Christ to others, and be an imitator of Him. 

Learning to find joy is one of the hardest things to do. Especially when there seems to be none... I know.
You can do it. Train yourself to be filled with gratitude. Thank God for the things he has already given to you.

Someone once told me, "Life isn't supposed to be easy, just joyful." This is so true. Train yourself to find the joy in any and every situation that comes your way.

Dare yourself to live differently than maybe you have been. Dare to take a different stand. Dare to find the joy, not for the benefit of others, but for yourself.