Joy! Do You Have It?

Tuesday, August 3rd, 2021

Hello friends —

Today was an extra special day for me. I was finally able to meet a dear friend for lunch and celebrate my birthday. This is the first lunch we have been able to share since before the COVID pandemic started. My friend, Jan has been not merely a friend, she is also a source of spiritual support and encouragement to live into the life God created me to be. In fact, this blog is a direct result of her encouragement to pursue my dream of writing. She will not like what I am about say, “to me she is a saint”; at least according to:

Oxford Languages at Google

“a very virtuous, kind, or patient person.”

I once described my friend, Jan as the most humble individual I had ever met, and that remains true. Jan and I met back in 2013 at church, God through His miraculous ways brought us together at the time and season of our lives when we both were open to a new friendship and a shared faith in God.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (NRSVA)

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to throw away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace.

During lunch today, Jan ask me a question I was not prepared to answer. “When did you last experience joy?” This past year and a half has been difficult for almost everyone around the world. I have experienced bursts of joy during the past year. I was able to take a mini vacation to Pigeon Forge and Gatlinburg, TN in December 2020 and to Chattanooga, TN in June of this year. I experienced joy on these trips. These are examples of external joy; however, her question was one of internal joy. “A state of happiness” definition according to: http://www.merriam-webster.com/

True Joy Come From Within

I find joy in—

• spending time with friends

• in my job

• from my coworkers

• helping others

• sharing my time and talents

• helping others experience joy

• taking pictures of God’s creation

• spending time alone reading, writing, listening to music or watching TV.

• sleeping 💤 😴💤😁

After spending the afternoon thinking about joy I discovered an article that brought me some clarity and wish to share it with you.

🔹 J•O•Y 🔹

“But the ability to feel and show joy doesn’t come from the favorable circumstances of our human lives; it comes from God. We can’t lose joy any more than we can lose God. And we’re forever in the presence of God. He is all-powerful and totally good. Joy, as a spiritual quality, lasts forever. We always have it.”

“Having joy includes feeling good cheer and a vibrant happiness. But joy, in its fuller, spiritual meaning of expressing God’s goodness, involves more. It is a deep-rooted, inspired happiness.”

“The Holy Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh. 8:10). The Bible says God gives us joy and peace. It tells us that real joy comes from God and is ours forever. The joy that is found in God’s presence isn’t static; it transforms and regenerates us.”

“Paul, a follower of Jesus Christ, wrote in a letter that joy is a “fruit of the Spirit” (Gal. 5:22). Spirit is another name for God. Spiritual joy from God gives us a sense of the presence of good, showing His infinite power to govern the lives of men and women. As we learn more that God is All, that He is good, and that there is no power besides Him, spiritual joy will be ours more and more, bringing healing and happiness into our lives.”

“At the heart of joy is an unshakable awareness that we possess good from God. Joy is part of God’s kingdom. Harmony and painless being are spiritual qualities, and expressing joy brings these qualities into view in our lives.”

Full article click here: The Healing Power Of Joy

~Charlotte, Seeker of unexpected Comfort, Happiness, Joy and Patience.

References:

Oxford Languages at Google

https://www.biblegateway.com/

https://www.merriam-webster.com/

The Healing Power Of Joy