I choose joy!

We live on a roller coaster ride. One phone call and we crash downward into fear and worry. Around a turn and up we climb. Things are not as bad as we thought. We laugh and enjoy the ride to the top, where we can see so clearly. Then boom, another crisis, and we crash downward, holding on for dear life. This is life with addiction.

I have been through times when my emotions were so tossed around that I felt completely exhausted. I was helpless to stop the ride. When circumstances seem to explode into a chaotic tornado, there is a very real possibility of injury. If we allow our emotions to control us, our hearts and our families may wind up as collateral damage.

“Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength. (Neh 8:10, NIV)”

Well, that sounds great, but how do we tap into that joy-strength?

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Gal 5:22)”

You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. Within you lives everything you need. You only need to draw from the root of life that was deposited at salvation. Fruit grows from the life- giver. Love, joy, peace- each of these is already deep within your soul, waiting to be tapped into.

Joy is a choice! You have the ability to choose to change your perspective. Circumstances will come. Life happens, maybe more severely when we are dealing with addiction. Choose to live and think from a place of joy. It is like a filter, a lens on your vision. Joy.

How are you seeing your circumstances? How will you view your next crisis?

Joy. Not happiness. There is a difference.

There is no reason why you would be happy when your child calls you and is high living on the street.

God does not expect you to be happy when your family is falling apart because your husband is addicted.

Joy does not come from circumstances or emotions. It is born when God is present with you. He gives joy. Nothing can take it away, we just push it back into the depths of our soul. Joy is a perspective that allows you to live.

I choose joy- I know that my God is here with me and loves me. I choose to live as if that was all that matters. I choose to see people through that filter, and that gives me strength. I can sing for joy, even if I’m not happy.

“Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain. We can choose to live in joy! ( Joseph Campbell)”