"A joyful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Proverbs 17:22.
I have just finished up my third year in ChemE and let me tell you, there have been so many times I wondered why I stuck it out this long. I have constantly been under stress, worrying about this assignment or this project or when I was going to study for this exam.
It made me question why God led me to this path. I questioned my confidence in God. Why did I have to constantly give up my nights to hang out with my friends in order to bury my head in a textbook? Why, even when I was spending (what seemed like) all of my time studying, did I only just barely pass all my classes?
All of the stress I put myself under took away from the joy that God gives me. I figured that my unhappiness would only last until I was done with school. That once school was over, I would be happy again. But there was always going to be something that made me unhappy.
These were all lies of the enemy. That my happiness was always dependent on something going on in my life. But then it all clicked- I don't want to be happy, I want to be joyful. Happiness is circumstantial. But joy is eternal.
Joy is a gift from God. And I may not always be happy with the circumstances I'm in, but I can always be joyful knowing that Jesus is on my side!
"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds," James 1:2
"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12
I believed the lie of the devil. That I had no joy. That my happiness was circumstantial.
God wants us to be happy. But more than anything he wants us to be joyful. He wants us to smile and to laugh. He finds delight when we are smiling and laughing. It gives Him praise!
God wants us to be happy. But more than anything he wants us to be joyful. He wants us to smile and to laugh. He finds delight when we are smiling and laughing. It gives Him praise!
So in the coming week, I am challenging you and me...
to find joy no matter what we're going through!
to not believe the lies of the enemy!
and to trust that God's joy is greater!
2 comments
Challenge accepted! Needed to here this Adrienne!
ReplyDeleteAND You are such a Joy to be around! I'm really glad you let God bring you to a place that scared the chicken nuggets out of you :)
love you lauryn!
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