Joy!

        Don’t get me wrong, I’m a happy person. But I’m also a joyful person. I wanted to make that distinction because I’m not always happy, but you would never know because a majority of the time I’m joyful. (Joy is based on God’s presence within us; happiness is based on external circumstances.)  

        I think growing up I was a happy-go-lucky kid and overall optimist. But it wasn’t until my car accident that I really got an unshakable joy in my life. It was then that I could so clearly see God’s love for me. He didn’t have to spare me, but He did. I could have died May 19th, 2008, but I’m so grateful that wasn’t the date intended for my death certificate. God wasn’t through with me yet and there is still work for me to do. I’ve never felt more valued in my life.  
 
        Nothing like a real-life application to make the scriptures come alive:
        “Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave.” (Psalm 16:9-10)
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        And I want this joy for you too; it’s incredible. I challenge you to search your own life. I’m sure God’s brought you through something…maybe a bad wreck like me or an illness. Even if it is not something traumatic (I’m pretty thick-skulled so God had to reach me in a major way). I’m sure you have something to be joyful about.  Search your heart. Ask God to bring an experience back to your memory. I’m sure He’s done several incredible things for you, and at the very least you can be grateful for each day because when you open your eyes it’s confirmation that God isn’t done with you yet.