Don't Give Your Joy Away

At church service on Sunday, I was smacked upside the head with the notion of 'giving my joy away'.

Wow - not something I like to think about.  It's easier to blame the circumstances, the situations, others actions and attitudes for my lack of joy.

I have to admit - shamefully - that I often allow my joy to be stolen.  Jesus tells us to be joyful. That He left us HIS joy that our joy could be complete.

With that in mind, who am I to allow what's going on around me - no matter how irritating or annoying it may be - to steal my joy?

Who am I to give it away so easily?

I've struggled with the concept of joy for some time.  I tend to be of the pessimistic persuasion.  The glass is definitely half empty.

Bubbly is not a word often used to describe me.

My moods are easily impacted by my experiences and circumstances.

As the pastor talked about joy and how it is different than happiness, my mind clicked.  I don't have to be 'happy' to be joyful.  I I knew that - I've heard it before.  I just tend to forget - to allow life to push it out of my memory banks.

I determined that I should NOT allow what others do or say to take my joy.

With Jesus in my heart, no matter the situation, I can have joy. Even in hard times; frustrating times; painful times; I can be joyful. Why?  HOPE!  The hope I have in Jesus allows me to be joyful in ALL things.

Now the trick will be to live it out - more often than not.  To cease my thoughts when I am tempted to have a mini pity party or feel 'woe is me' over some difficulty that is attempting to gobble up my joy.

I knew this.  I just needed a reminder.  A jolt, as it were, to get back on track.  To purposely guard my JOY!