I grew up with the lie that
I was not allowed to be
HAPPY,
because
every time I was HAPPY
I was picked apart until
HAPPY was so longer.
This lie followed me through life
so that
I became my worse enemy.
Every time I was HAPPY,
I would have to jeopardize it
because I believed the lie.
But then I found JOY
“YOU turned my wailing into dancing;
you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy"
(Psalm 30:11)
GOD gave me PERMISSION
to live beyond HAPPY
by filling me with HIS JOY.
Oh how JOY overrides HAPPY,
because JOY is in the heart
and HAPPY is based on circumstances.
"Though you have not seen HIM, you love HIM; and though you do not even see HIM now, you believe and trust in HIM and you greatly rejoice and delight with inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving as the result [the outcome,
the consummation] of your faith, the salvation of your soul" (I Peter 1:8-9)
MY JOY & YOUR JOY
is not based on circumstances,
as circumstances come and go,
forever changing.
JOY is FOREVER.
JOY is NOW.
Because
JOY IS JESUS,
even when
I may not be HAPPY
in those times
when what I want to
HAPPEN is not HAPPENING
or when I want
what is HAPPENING to UNHAPPEN.
I am HAPPY,
because I have JOY.
Jesus
Only
You.
JESUS is enough
in HAPPY times
and in UNHAPPY times.
I love the HAPPY times,
and I don't love the UNHAPPY times,
as both come and go.
But JESUS is here to stay.
When I find myself getting buried beneath
the overwhelming pain, hurt and sadness
of some of LIFE HAPPENINGS,
that strive to make me
BELIEVE
the lie that I am not allowed to be HAPPY,
I feel a gentle tap on my shoulder reminding me to
LOOK UP
to the ONE who
is my JOY.
Like right now in this moment,
as HIS JOY is overwhelming me.
HIS Indescribable JOY.
Oh no one can steal my JOY because no one can steal
GOD from me.
"I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. MY FATHER, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my FATHER'S hand. I and the FATHER are one” (John 10:28-30)
PERMISSION TO BE HAPPY~
"Happy are the people whose GOD is the LORD!"
(Psalm 144:15)
PERMISSION TO BE JOYFUL
even when things aren't going the way I want them to go
because
JESUS will always be JESUS
and
GOD will always be GOD~
"Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength"
(Nehemiah 8:10).
Therefore,
I will hold steadfast to JOY
as I will
"Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer" (Romans 12:12).
Because
"I've got a heart overflowing 'cause I've been restored.
There ain't nothing gonna steal my JOY.
No, there ain't nothing gonna steal my JOY"
(from "Old Church Choir", listen below)