So I’ll be honest here I wasn’t going to write a blog post for this week. I’ve started a new job & it’s been really draining, I felt this message on my heart but thought I could save it for another time. I went on Instagram & every post I saw was talking about joy & I just knew even though I don’t feel like it I believe God wants me to share this message with you so here I am.
If you don’t know me personally my middle name is actually joy. From a very young age, my parents explained to me the difference between joy & happiness. Happiness is a feeling that’s most of the time based on our surroundings or something good that happens. Where joy is a soul thing, it’s deeper than just happiness & it’s not based on circumstance it’s more of a choice based on what God has done for you. I’ve always been really intrigued by joy & I’ll be honest there are times when I don’t want to be joyful I’d rather be miserable. It’s a daily choice that I have to make, it’s something that I have to constantly remind myself of. Don’t let the disappointments of life steal your joy, steal away the amazing act of love Jesus has shown us. If nothing ever good happens in my life, one thing remains & that’s what Jesus did on the cross for you & me & that alone should sustain us & bring us joy. I’ve recently been in one of those hard seasons & I realized very quickly that even though everything isn’t perfect, or going the way I want I can still be joyful, I can still laugh, still be thankful, still wake up with a smile on my face knowing that no matter what’s happening God has got everything in His hands & He knows what He’s doing. I believe joy begins with gratitude being thankful for all the little things in our lives. When I choose to focus on who Jesus is & all the things in my life I take for granted I can’t help but be joyful. When I read through the Bible & see all the promises for my life & the lives of other believers I can’t help but joyful knowing that more is coming & that I don’t have to worry. Yes, joy is a daily choice, a choice to keep your eyes focused on the one above & not on what’s going on around you. I promise you that you can make it through whatever you’re going through & if you choose joy through this season it won’t be as hard & you’ll make it to the other side with a strength that won’t be easily shaken. Be expectant for better things because God has more in store for you than you could ever imagine.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13
This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Nehemiah 8:10b
So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.
John 16:22
She Laughs Mission 
Choosing joy is so important and there is such a big difference between it and happiness. I studied out every reference to joy in the Bible along with the original meanings in Hebrew and Greek and it was really a choice to verbally and often physically praise God, and dance even when one didn’t want to, and how that paves way for the miracle. I wrote about this recently on my blog including a free printable with all those Scriptures and meanings in it.
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