Don't take my joy...

There are so many situations in life that try to steal our joy...they threaten us with thoughts that seem to overwhelm, cloud and almost make our joy completely invisible.

I have been wrestling with the evil that wants my joy...and I'm pretty tired of fighting the battle! Everything in life poses a possible situation that can cause us to stress, worry and take our eyes off of the blessings at hand. Cause us to complain (either outwardly or inwardly) and ultimately make us feel sorry for ourselves...depressed...and anxious. I understand that there will be dark days in every ones path, and that in the midst of those dark days it's hard to turn our face towards heaven and smile, but God is always there, longing to encourage us in the midst of our dark.

I am not in dark. I have no reason (other than daily pressures and stresses) to not have joy...I do admit that I have been overwhelmed lately, but there is nothing dark about my life except the darkness that I choose to run towards in my sin. Darkness of jealousy, darkness of discontent (to fathom that I can even type "discontent" with all the blessings God has given me is disheartening) darkness of self-love, darkness of distraction (and distraction is anything that takes our eyes off of Christ)

I keep finding myself thinking that just plain old living in dependence daily on Christ isn't that fun...hmmmm...I sense much flaw in my thinking here.

Whatever happened to the joy of just being saved? Just knowing I've received eternal life and redemption? What happened to the joy of answered prayers? (big prayers, big answers) and the joy of knowing that I do not walk this road alone? Unfortunately, when I put my eyes on my circumstances instead of on my Savior, that joy is stolen away...

I have Jesus...that is all I need. I need to keep reminding myself of this, because everything else ultimately, come and goes. Relationships, food, health, homes, possessions, everything tangible, except for Christ.

When He is the reason I have joy, rather than circumstantial joys that fade with setting of the sun, I can be joyful even when the sun goes down, and the world falls apart around me.

I remember watching a clip from a movie about a family in the great depression, it was so influential to me because as I was watching this movie I thought to myself, "How is it that these people could still smile, still have peace even though they had only little slab of meat to eat for their whole family" The only answer that makes any sense at all, is that Christ was their everything. And so it is with me my friends...spiritually, many of us are in the great depression but we have a wealth of all the stuff we don't need to make us joyful. We've got all kinds of stuff and great circumstances, but no Jesus...

I was sitting in my home last night, staring at my kitchen. I have a kitchen. That's more than what half the world has. I have children. That's more than what half of women have. I have a husband who loves me...that's a miracle in and of itself! I could go on and on my friends...but instead of feeling blessed and joyful at the end of the day, I find myself feeling stressed and discontent because my house isn't as clean as I'd like, and I didn't find time to shower that day! (not because I don't have a shower, but because I was too busy to do it.

I know I'm rambling a bit here friends, but I'm trying to paint a picture for you...what I have, is huge...and yet I still go on to feel sorry for myself, and ultimately, allow darkness in my life instead of rejoicing over what God has given me, and finding my ultimate joy in the fact that I have Jesus.

Do you know this song..."Jesus, Jesus, your the answer, to all I'm searching for..."

Well, it's true. He is what I'm searching for, but I keep looking in the wrong places. Instead of opening the word, I go everywhere else first. I repent of that.

In Him alone will I never thirst again. In Him alone will I be able to lay my head down at night in ABSOLUTE PEACE...In Him alone will I rest assured that all my needs will be met.

I can't remind myself enough that although I may lie to myself or believe the lie that others tell me that joy can be found in other things, I am wrong. The world is wrong. In Christ alone is there perfect joy.

Today I am telling myself and praying that the Lord will show me, how to take my eyes off of me, and put them back on Him. "Eyes on me..." He says. For when my eyes are locked with His, I can't help but notice the whole rest of the world disappears.