Are you too afraid to have JOY?
You might say it’s just a play on words, but hear me out.
If happiness is a feeling, let’s consider JOY as its older, more mature, stable cousin. JOY doesn’t leave at the first hint of trouble; it’s deep-seated and akin to PEACE.
“Peace of mind” is more than a phrase carelessly tossed into a conversation. For some people, peace of mind is a constant, everyday struggle.
They are ANXIOUS about life. There are so many unknown variables that could potentially hinder their happy life. Anxiety over all the things they can’t control cancels out any sense of PEACE.
FEAR takes over. JOY is cancelled.
But—
“Where God’s love is, there is no fear, because God’s perfect love drives out fear…” 1 John 4:18a NCV
I’m not suggesting that one Bible verse will be the magic cure for all our fear and anxiety. But I do believe that as we learn to give over the things that cause us FEAR, as we learn to TRUST a good and gracious God to be in control of all the things we can’t control, that JOY can break through the clouds of FEAR.
“O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I’m far away. You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord. You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand! I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there. If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me. I could ask the darkness to hide me and the light around me to become night— but even in darkness I cannot hide from you. To you the night shines as bright as day. Darkness and light are the same to you.” Psalms 139:1-12 NLT
