Unspeakable Joy

If anyone says you cannot have joy in the midst of the storm, they do not know the difference between joy and happiness! A wise man once told me, "Happiness is dependant on your happenings. Joy however, is not!" 

"The joy of the Lord is your strength" Nehemiah 8:10.... "rejoice in trials / suffering for we know that suffering produces perseverance and endurance, and endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation." Romans 5:3  
 
This takes a lot of character! Especially because we have to be reminded that God does not give us these trials nor temptations nor suffering! There is not a bone in His body that desires harm for us! "Every perfect gift comes from the Father above." James 1:17 
 
I have been in places of deep discouragement, but these last few months have been incredible! I am learning and growing in this thing called joy. In this time of exceeding joy I want to hold tight to what I have learned so that in times of hardship, I can remind myself of all that God has done and be strengthened in His joy when things aren't going the way I planned. "To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with exceeding joy." Jude 1:24
 

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