It seemed for many years when I first began walking with the Lord that joy eluded me. I was so bogged down with brokenness and depression. It seemed like overcoming these challenges was insurmountable. I asked myself, "Where is the light at the end of the tunnel?" It seemed that all hell had set its sights on me, and the arrows kept coming in my direction. Slowly, so very slowly, I became stronger. I started to overcome my negative thought patterns, and I learned to pray and to fight more effectively.
In the beginning of my faith-filled journey, the Lord encountered me in a profound way. Because of those encounters, I fell deeply in love with my amazing King. That love held me through the trials, and it still does each day.
I am not sure exactly when the tide turned, but it did. And I became aware of how through all I went through God was shaping me and conforming me to His image, a process that continues to this day. I could see how He had brought me through and made so many changes in my life.
My sorrow was turning into joy.
The joy came from the reality of the awareness and revelation of who He is, how much He loves me and that His promises are true. I was beginning to realize that in all my struggles He was truly bringing beauty out of the ashes (Isaiah 61:3). Today, I can pray and believe for God's goodness to manifest in other peoples lives along with the victories that He wants to bring forth. The reality is that I do not serve a dead lifeless religious God but a God of light, love and power!
As one song say, "There is no one like our God." To know Him is to love Him, and I can say today that if you haven’t experienced His joy yet, just stay faithful, keep pressing into Him and before you know it, His joy will be your strength. May I add one thing: don’t be surprised if laughter comes with the joy. Proverbs 17:22 says “A merry heart doeth good like a medicine.”
Yep, you will have the joy, joy, joy down in your heart down in your heart to stay…
Song:
Prayer:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank You for Your joy that brings us strength. Help us to meditate and to gaze upon You. Please release the revelation of who You are into the depths of our hearts. Help us to turn away from distractions and to gain victories as overcomers in Your kingdom. May we learn to encourage others to grow in their faith and to yield to Your conforming righteous power.
Divine Exercises and Journal Prompts
- List 3 ways you have experienced victories in God that bring you joy.
- List 3 scriptures you can meditate on that relate to joy and strength.
- List 3 ways you can encourage others to find joy in the Lord.
0 comments