True Joy / Mrs Flower Webb

Mrs Flower Webb

Child of the King / Wife / Mom

Emmanuel Baptist Church

Hebron, IN

         True Joy

Living in NWI our family has the privilege of experiencing all four seasons. We experience extreme heat in the summer and extreme cold in the winter. Since moving to our farm, we have been able to enjoy these seasons in a way we simply could not in a city or neighborhood. 

As I write this, the actual temperature outside is -14 degrees. That, in my opinion, is pretty cold! I don't want to even think of what the wind chill really feels like.

When I think of this time of year I think of the snow, freezing winds, slippery roads, etc. However, I also think of pretty lights decorating our homes, warm cozy blankets readily available all around the house, cookies baking in the oven, and, of course, a hot cup of coffee being slowly sipped before the children wake up. 

Some of these thoughts are pleasant; others don't necessarily give me that warm fuzzy feeling. Reminder: it is -14 right now! For the last ten days my husband has been on vacation, and he did all the farm chores. Well, he went back to work today. As much as I enjoy our farm, and as thankful as I am to live here I am NOT looking forward to going out there to feed our animals. 

Right now, that is the last thing that gives me joy.

The month of January has been known as the month of depression. The holidays are behind us and most people start taking down all the beautiful decorations, children(and adults) start getting sick because of the overindulgence on sugar they have enjoyed since Thanksgiving, and most everyone is returning to work or school. Life is getting back to normal. Right about this time of year people start getting that yucky feeling in the pit of their stomach because we realize that all the "fun" is gone, we still have several months of this weather ahead of us, and the post-holiday bills begin to roll in. True joy is slowly being sucked out of our lives. 

So, what is true joy?

A simple google search said this...

" joy

joi/

noun

1. 1.
   a feeling of great pleasure and happiness."tears of joy"
2. synonyms:
3. delight, great pleasure, joyfulness, jubilation, triumph, exultation, rejoicing, happiness, gladness, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, elation, euphoria, bliss, ecstasy, rapture;  "  

Joy is being described as a feeling. 

As Christians, we know that our feelings can't always be trusted. If we trust circumstances to give us true joy then our emotions will be all over the place. 

A sweet lady shared this definition in our ladies Sunday School class and I love it.

"Joy is the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things."

Isn't that beautiful?! I could spend all day analyzing that definition and get pages and pages of notes, but the animals and children need to be fed; so I won't. 

A few weeks ago, my oldest daughter asked me to help her do a study on true joy. She had no idea we had been talking about this in my Sunday school class. It's been such a sweet journey sharing these thoughts with her. Watching her search for true joy that can ONLY come through Christ has been a huge blessing to this momma's heart. 

During the dreary month of January may we strive for true Joy; the joy of knowing to whom we belong. Circumstances in life cannot change that. 

Proverbs 17:22 - A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones

John 16:22 - And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you.

Romans 15:13 - Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.

Philippians 4:4 - Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.