[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_fullwidth_header title=”Choosing Joy” subhead=”April 20, 2018 | Happiness” background_layout=”dark” background_overlay_color=”rgba(38,38,38,0.32)” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_image=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ChoosingJoy.jpg” custom_padding=”200px||200px|” text_orientation=”left” header_fullscreen=”off” header_scroll_down=”off” image_orientation=”center” content_orientation=”center” custom_button_two=”off” button_two_icon_placement=”right” custom_button_one=”off” button_one_icon_placement=”right” /][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.92″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.92″ background_layout=”light”]
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he world defines happiness in a very specific way. It’s an emotion of great delight or pleasure caused by something good occurring. If life isn’t going your way, then theoretically you can’t be happy. Happiness is defined by your circumstances.
As a Christian, I think that happiness can be defined very differently. I like to think of this in terms of ‘joy’, which remains even when things are not going as smoothly and as perfectly as we wish they would. This joy stems from the confidence and hope that we have as a result of the victory of Jesus Christ through His death and resurrection.
Having joy is not about being happy all the time. It doesn’t mean you have to smile 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – thank goodness, because your face muscles would seriously ache! Having joy means that you can go through life, dealing with all the unexpected things that are thrown at you, knowing that at the end of it all, God is still good, His love remains and there is a home for you in Heaven when you leave this earth. Joy is a choice. It’s being able to rise above the circumstances you find yourself in and cling to the promises that God has for you.
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Over the last few months, I’ve walked through one of the saddest seasons I’ve ever found myself in. Losing someone very close to me to cancer was one of the most heart wrenching things I’ve ever had to deal with. The pain and the sadness has been intense, but even through the tears, I made a conscious decision to choose joy. I chose to cling to Jesus and to the hope and peace that He alone offers. My sadness didn’t all just go away overnight, it still hits me at times, but I have had unexplainable joy and peace in my heart that has come from choosing to trust Jesus despite the circumstances.
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Joy isn’t just a choice in the bigger events in our lives. It is a choice made every day. Maybe you’re driving your car and somebody cuts in front of you. It could be easy to get angry, right? We’ve all been there! What does choosing joy look like in that instance? Perhaps you don’t really need to honk your horn and start screaming like a crazy person at the driver who’s annoyed you. It could be a good shout to pray for that person instead… or at least just concentrate on driving yourself safely to your destination!
Maybe you’re rolling out of bed and into work (or college… or uni… or just insert your own option here) on a Monday morning. It could be easy to grumble and complain like the rest of your peers. What if you chose joy instead? What if you chose to be positive and expectant about the week ahead? Surely that would give you a much better perspective and enable you to accomplish more.
I could go on and on listing areas in life in which joy is a choice, but then you’d get bored. The point that I’m trying to get across is that in every second of every day you have choices to make. In my opinion, one of the most important choices is joy. Will you let your circumstances define you or will you rise above them and cling to the hope of God’s promises?
1 Thessalonians 5:16 – 18 tells us to rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all (not just some) circumstances. Why? Because this is how God wants you to choose to live when you believe in what He has done for you in giving His Son, Jesus, to die for you.
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Joy is a lifestyle of trusting Jesus and resting in His promises despite the circumstances. From my own experiences, it’s not an easy choice but it’s certainly the best choice you’ll ever make. Choosing joy enables me to get out of bed on a morning and deal with whatever lies before me. It doesn’t mean I’m happy every day and it certainly doesn’t mean I handle every situation perfectly. It does mean, however, that I have a much better outlook on life and a much deeper relationship with Jesus.
Start choosing joy today. I promise you won’t regret it!
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Joy is a lifestyle of trusting Jesus and resting in His promises despite the circumstances. From my own experiences, it’s not an easy choice but it’s certainly the best choice you’ll ever make. Choosing joy enables me to get out of bed on a morning and deal with whatever lies before me. It doesn’t mean I’m happy every day and it certainly doesn’t mean I handle every situation perfectly. It does mean, however, that I have a much better outlook on life and a much deeper relationship with Jesus.
Start choosing joy today. I promise you won’t regret it!
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″][et_pb_image _builder_version=”3.0.92″ src=”https://truestoryproject.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/ChoosingJoy2.jpg” show_in_lightbox=”off” url_new_window=”off” use_overlay=”off” always_center_on_mobile=”on” force_fullwidth=”off” show_bottom_space=”on” /][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”3.0.92″][et_pb_row _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_blog fullwidth=”off” posts_number=”3″ include_categories=”35901,35900″ show_more=”on” show_author=”off” show_comments=”on” show_pagination=”off” _builder_version=”3.0.92″ header_font=”|300|||||||” header_font_size=”22px” header_line_height=”1.3em” pagination_font_size_tablet=”51″ pagination_line_height_tablet=”2″ custom_padding=”|||” saved_tabs=”all” show_content=”off” show_thumbnail=”on” show_date=”on” show_categories=”on” use_dropshadow=”off” use_overlay=”off” background_layout=”light”]
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