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<<First Name>>
Some days it seems my mood can turn on a dime. Everything is trucking along just fine and then… _______ (fill in whatever disaster you choose here) and everything falls apart. Our once jovial mood turns to frustration, discouragement, maybe even anger. That is because our happiness is often dependent upon our happenings. When things in our life are going well - good health, positive relationships, nice surroundings, etc. we might feel happy. But what happens when our circumstances change? When things are not going well we feel unhappy. You cannot be happy and unhappy at the same time - they cannot coexist.
But joy isn’t just an emotion we feel; it is a gift from God.
While joy may be similar, it isn’t the same as happiness. Joy does not depend upon our circumstances; it is an attribute of the character of God. Joy is a part of who we are, as we reflect the image we were created in. That is why it is possible to experience joy and sorrow at the same time. We can sing praises to God, even in the midst of our storms, our trials, and our grief.
My youngest daughter is a delight. Literally, her name means “my gracious delight.” It didn’t take long for us to see the gift of joy she has and shares. Her loving sweet personality and infectious giggle has a way of bringing joy to the hearts of those around her. But her gift goes beyond her personality. She has a gift of being able to look at a situation and find a way to rejoice, often sharing a word of hope even when others may feel discouraged.
Joy views the world around it differently. Since it comes from the very nature of who God is, it is not easily swayed by our circumstances. Instead, it gives us the ability to look beyond our situation, beyond what is in front of us and hang on to our eternal hope in Christ Jesus. God gives us the gift of joy that we might rejoice in what God is doing and what is to come. So no matter our circumstances, we can choose the gift of joy, offering God our praise as we welcome His Son.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Gordon
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