I’m a seeker of joy. Not of things that make me happy for a time, but the joy and happiness that comes from obedience to my Lord, joy that comes from service to others, and joy that comes from knowing I am daily living the mission God gave me.
I’ve learned joy is present when tears of anguish flow. I’ve learned joy can be present when pain levels soar, or something tap dances in my head. I’ve also learned joy can be present when I’ve spent the day writing, rewriting, and re-writing, yet can’t find the right words.
Fires can strip us of treasured possessions, diseases rob us from a long life, friends may hurt us, and careers take a wrong turn. Divorce can change our family dynamics. Financial setbacks add weight to our shoulders, and prodigal children add weight to our hearts.
You see joy has nothing to do with the things we accumulate, the circumstances of life, or the way our day finishes. True joy can only be found in our Heavenly Father. Sins must be forgiven before our heart and soul can be filled with joy. Obedience to all the principles found in God’s Word keeps our joy bright and vibrant.
As I was seeking God for my “One Word” this year, He brought the word Joy to my mind over and over, but every time I started to embrace it as my word my heart was troubled. Then one day when I was asking God again what He wanted me to do about Joy, the words Joy Seeker plopped right into my heart. We can be aware of joy and record the things that bring us joy, and that certainly has its place, but seeking joy is a bold step when striving to obey the laws and principles in God’s Word. In our obedience we find joy.
Throughout the past weeks, I’ve been listening to the Holy Spirit as He has guided me into this joy search. I’ll be sharing twelve principles from the Word that will bring us joy. I hope you’ll travel along with me on this joy-seeking journey, and share your own joy stories.
Russell Nelson penned, “The joy we feel has little to do with the circumstances of our lives, and everything to do with the focus of our lives.” Let’s open our hearts to joy!