-Invincible Joy-

Happiness is based on circumstances, but joy is not. Joy is a choice we have to make. This world likes to tell you once you have what you want you will be happy. Maybe it's that career or that big job, the perfect relationship, a nice home, or once you are married and have kids you think you will be happy. That is false. If you are looking to be happy and satisfied with the things you can get, then that happiness will only last so long until it runs out. Then you go and chase the next thing that you believe will make you happy. This will leave you feeling exhausted, alone, and depressed. Don't fall into that trap. Maybe you are going through a hard time in your life or maybe everything feels pretty good right now. But our circumstances at this minute could all change an in a heartbeat. All of us have had hard seasons in our life, I have had my seasons of hardship. There have been times in my life that I felt alone. But it's because of those seasons in my life that I am who I am today. Without the hard times I wouldn't have drawn closer to Christ in the times I felt like no one understood me or knew my dreams. Because God did. He knows my heart better than anyone. And He knows my desires and dreams and He has helped me step into His purpose for my life and live it out day by day. It is in Him I find my purpose. It is good to remember that chasing perfection will not make us happy. In this world that is nothing but a fairy tale. We don't always get what we want, because the truth is God is the only one who knows what we actually need. We assume by getting the things out of life we want, we will be happy. Maybe for a season, but eventually it runs out and you chase the next thing. You get stuck in this cycle that never leaves you happy. There is nothing this world can offer that will give you everlasting happiness. We have to choose... Are we going to be joyful in every season of our lives, good or bad? Joy is not based on what you have or want, it is a choice. 

The Apostle Paul was in prison with nothing yet he chose to rejoice in the midst of His persecutions. Paul found hope in hard times. He brought God glory in the middle of hardships. He trusted God with His life and knew he was never alone. Happiness is often determined by the things that happen to us or around us, but joy is determined from within. Paul chose joy. We have that same choice. We can be joyful in this season we are in right now. And in this hard season, we can grow in our faith. Each season in life is a gift, let us receive it with a heart full of joy knowing God is in control. There is a time for everything, let us choose to be joyful where God has us in life. God has us right where He wants us. Let go and trust Him. Most of all let us continue to have a heart in pursuit of Christ.

 "Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us" (Romans 5:3-5)