On a quest to discover how I could be so at peace when there is clearly chaos all around, I realized that I have truly found the JOY OF THE LORD. I don't think I've ever really understood the scripture in Nehemiah 8:10 when he stated that "the joy of the Lord is your strength" He instructed the people to not be sad, because this was a day of the Lord. I look back over events in my life and it amazes me that even with all that I've been through and have experienced, nothing or no one can steal my joy. Now have I always been happy about what's taking place in my life...ABSOLUTELY NOT! But that's why we are to experience joy versus happiness, which is found in Christ.
One may ask, what's the difference? Happiness is a temporary emotional state of being. Happiness is experienced during contentment and satisfaction to something that is pleasing to one's flesh. Happiness is not permanent and does not bring about inward peace and contentment. However, JOY....OH JOY!!!! Joy is a state of being...NOT AN EMOTION. Joy is related to happiness, but it is a much deeper experience. Joy is beyond self and it connects us to that which is GREATER than we are or could ever be. We hear people say all the time..."I just want to be happy" and in the quest to find happiness they focus on themselves, but when someone wants to experience great joy they must move beyond the self-centered preoccupation and seek those things that will bring about an inward, spiritual satisfaction to not just themselves, but to others as well. I read somewhere a comparison that stated that "happiness is a solid and joy is a liquid". My interpretation is that happiness is momentarily and occurs in chunks and blocks at a time...its sporadic and not constant. But JOY on the other hand is free flowing, and constant once you have it it doesn't come and go based upon life's circumstances, its ALWAYS PRESENT.
Who wouldn't want to experience something like that?! I DO, AND I AM!!! Cause with all that I've been through...THE JOY OF THE LORD IS DEFINITELY MY STRENGTH!!!!
Be Blessed!
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