Created for Joy (Living God’s Way)

Along the way I’ve discovered that living in Christ is living in joy. We were created for happiness, for laughter, for singing, for dancing—for joy!

Too often I allow the world to close in around me. Too often I allow the darkness to start pressing in, squeezing out the light, threatening to swallow my joy. Too often I allow the burdens of life to drag me down the path of despair.

These moments are a painful reminder that I, once again, need to turn my burdens over to the strong, broad shoulders of the only One Who can handle it all—God.

Once I’ve released my burdens, God whispers joy’s true melody to my heart, reminding me of this powerful truth: The constant taking—the building up of stuff (useless junk); the piling up of fake, frilly friends; the constant attempt to pretty-up of my sad, soiled life—does not lead to true, sustainable joy. Instead, the road to eternal joy lies in the building of genuine community; participating in honest, heartfelt fellowship; the growing of deep, lasting friendships; fulfilling God’s purpose for my life; and, most importantly, the continual building and strengthening of an eternal relationship with my ever-faithful God. These are the true cries of our desperate souls. These are the source of sustained joy. These are the true treasures of life.

So join me as turn from the barren promises offered by a desperate world and turn to the true source of sustainable joy—God.

Final Thought: Laughter matters! Living devoid of laughter and genuine joy is not truly living.