Filled With Joy

   Well it's Friday; another weekend is ahead of us to enjoy. I traveled back home this weekend. I'm looking forward to some time with my friends and family. The snow was coming down heavily earlier today, but it was also super peaceful. As I walked to chapel this morning, the snowflakes slowly fell onto my head and filled my hair with sparkling snowflakes. It's so fascinating to me when I can see a single snowflake. They're so beautiful and each one is unique! God is such an awesome creator! 
   Today I am reminded of the joy we have in Jesus and the strength and security it gives us. When I think of being joyful, I always think of being extremely happy or excited. However, the joy that God fills us with is much deeper than just simply feeling happy. It is being content in every circumstance. It is when you are at that point of experiencing His true peace, even among troubles. The joy of the Lord gives us hope and courage in all situations.
   When we completely surrender ourselves to Jesus Christ and submit our lives to Him, He has the power to give us this true joy. The circumstances in our lives are never perfect. There is always something that we would rather not have to be dealing with or a situation that we would rather not be in, but when we are submerged in God's grace and love, we will experience joy even in these times. 
   God is the only way for true joy in our lives. So often we search for this joy in other places, all the wrong places. We look to people to please us or affirm us, to give us security. We look for our talents and abilities to bring us fame or happiness. We expect so much from the world, yet the happiness we experience here is only temporary. The good things we experience here on this earth will come and go. 

   

   When God is our source of joy, we will always be able to experience true joy. The joy of the Lord brings us life, determination, and strength. It is more than just a feeling, but a prospective and a way of living our lives. The joy of the Lord is deep in our hearts and when we have it, it is hard to contain. God wants us to share our joy with others, telling them about His promise and spreading His love. With joy in our hearts, we will have the strength to seek God's purpose for us.