Yet, I Will Rejoice!

I was walking in the park a few months ago. I had to let off some steam.  I was a very angry at where the Lord had led me to in my life.  I had some very dark thoughts running through my mind and I had to work some things out in my head.  Has that ever happened to you?  I'm pretty positive; I am not the only one.  

On my walk, I realized that it was getting pretty dark.  I thought to my self, "You are really stupid!  Why are you walking in the woods in the dark?  How do I get to a place where I feel more comfortable?  Walk faster and get out of the park...yup that is what I need to do.  Get to a place where there is more light!"

And God began to speak to me in that very moment.  Sometimes, we are lead to very hard places by our own making, others choices, or because God wants to refine us.  Those places in life, those circumstances can be painful, scary, frustrating and just plain to hard to handle.  You may feel like you are walking in dark woods alone.    

Habakkuk reminds us that even when faced with tough times, discipline, loss or when you just cannot see a light at the end of the tunnel... God is our light. He is our strength.  He is our joy!

Habakkuk 3:18-19

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!

I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

The Sovereign Lord is my strength!

He makes me as surefooted as a deer,

able to tread upon the heights.

God has been teaching me a whole new aspect of joy.  True joy is not that happy, bubbly, good feeling that as Christians we are suppose to feel.  HA  There is nobody who feels like that all the time.  If someone says they do, they lie.  I bought into that lie myself.  What I have discovered recently is....True joy is that feeling, deep down inside of your gut when facing the most horrible time in your life, that says,"Even though my world is crashing into pieces...I know God loves me."  "Who you are ain't what you're going through!" (Group 1 Crew "He Said")

"I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  The sovereign Lord is my strength!"  Joy is knowing that God never leaves you or forsakes you.  Joy is knowing that God gives you the strength you need to face any situation.  God will not allow you to break!  When you don't think you can take once more step in your circumstance say, "The joy of the Lord is my strength!"  

That joy is knowing that God loves you. He died for you.  He saved you.  He has given you a future hope with Him forever in eternity.  He keeps His promises.  He meets your needs.  He is all you need.  Really knowing and feeling that I am a child of the Most High.  That is joy!  Joy is knowing you are loved no matter what by the Creator of the universe.  Joy is peace with God!

We cannot manage our lives, try as we may.  There is nothing we really can control.  All we can control in our life is our reactions.  God is the only one who can manage our lives.  He knows the beginning from the end.  He has our best interest in His mind and heart.  

Jeremiah 29:11

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

We have a new saying around our home these days...

I can't...

God can!

I might as well let Him!

True joy can only be found in the mighty God who made us and loves us with an everlasting love.  

Jeremiah 31:3

The Lord has appeared of old to me, saying:

“Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love;

Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.

GET JOY!

This song is my new favorite this year!

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