True Joy
Romans 15:13- “now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
We recently had an opportunity to put ourselves out there and try for a chance at something new. We have what we need and are so thankful, but we let ourselves have the chance to dream about what could be and making something our own and spending our money wiser for the long road. Honestly it felt good to hope for something new and different. As time went on and we waited for the answer it felt more and more likely that things were going to go through. I waited to get excited until the final day when we would hear the answer. The answer ended up being no and it felt extra disappointing. However, both my husband and I reminded ourselves that this is what we prayed for. We prayed hard that if it was meant to be things would go smooth and our offer would be accepted, and things would fall into place, and it would be affordable. But we also prayed if it wasn’t meant to be the doors would close and we would trust God had something better in mind for us down the road. God was gracious to answer that prayer the same as the first. My husband also told me just today that it is kind of cool for the people that did get the opportunity because it was in their cards and how exciting that must be for them. Even though we don’t know who those people are it felt good to celebrate with them their good news even though it felt like our bad news. I want to be the person cheering others on always- even though that doesn’t come naturally- that is something I want to make a priority in my life.
I shared with a good friend of mine the news and she told me that she appreciates how I always am able to look at the bright side of things. It got me thinking- what a joy we have in Christ. We can trust that even though the answer may be no, or not yet, that means that God has something different and we can trust that His ways are ALWAYS better. His ways are higher. He sees the whole picture- yesterday, today, tomorrow and 10 years later. It changes the disappointment aspect- don’t get me wrong I was totally bumming- but the bumming didn’t consume me because I have hope.
When we talk about the verse that says to ‘be joyful always’ it doesn’t exactly mean ‘be happy always’. You may not agree but I don’t believe happiness and joyfulness are the same thing. We can be full of joy and still feel really unhappy. Joy is a state of being where happiness is a feeling that is fleeting. Joy comes from hope and trusting in something bigger than ourselves. True joy is only found because of the gift we have in Christ.
I pray for whoever ends up using this mug. I pray that they are filled with true joy always. Joy and peace in believing so that they may overflow with hope. God really is good. Good really loves us.