Finding Joy in Troubled times

The Joy Of The Lord Is My Strength

By Treva Susuras One thing I would say is to never forget you are in charge of you. The choices you make are your own. When you wake up in the morning you can decide what kind of day you will have, a good day full of joy or a bad day full hopelessness. Once we get our mind set on that one thing happy or sad, then we can enter in to that day. If we try and get in the habit of being excited when we wake up that helps a lot. I remember when Doug and I got together, he showed me a whole new life with Jesus in it. Things changed for me. As I read the word daily and prayed daily, I could feel a change inside of me. I began to be excited every morning when I woke up because I didn’t know what wonderful things were about to happen. I didn’t concentrate on the bad things that could happen. I would be total dependent on God for the day. Life was not always easy for us as Doug came into a family with 2 preteens and a baby. He took all three kids as his own, and then eventually we had a son together, and not one of us knew Jesus. So, he had a hard road ahead of him. And I fought him a lot of the way. We thought that because he made my kids mind, he was mean. He brought structure that I had never known and I didn’t like that either. Or should I say I didn’t think I liked it but yet I did. So, that being said, we had battles. We conquered those battles and still found the most joy I have ever known. There is joy and there is happiness. Happiness is when the things around you make you happy. The problem with that is that when things get ruff around you that happiness leaves and emptiness begins to grow. But,,, The Joy that comes for the Lord is never ending. It is there no matter what is going on around us. If we can learn to focus on Jesus and all His promises, we will find joy we have never known, a way over every obstacle. We begin to expect goodness and peace. The enemy begins to be defeated and Jesus is lifted high. Galatians 5:22 says that Joy is a fruit of the spirit. John 16:33 says “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” So, Jesus knew we would have tribulation (great trouble or suffering) but He promises to bring us peace during that time. He tell us to be of good cheer (joyful) because He has overcome every trouble we will ever have. Because He has overcome every obstacle, He will lead us through it too! Nehemiah 8 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Ps 32: 11 says to “Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart. Here’s the deal,,, God wants us to center our lives around Him, to be thankful for the things He has done, and to glorify His Holy Name. When we make ourselves so busy praising God, all the troubles around us seems to get smaller and smaller. The trial may still be there but its hold on you is not. Depression, and hopelessness seems to disappear, and joy comes in! I have been at my saddest in my life, and every time, Jesus has brought me through it. Before I knew Jesus, a bottle or other substance brought me a temporary fake peace. I felt like I had to be high or drunk to be content because my life was so screwed up. Now I can’t and don’t even want to try and live without Jesus, and the peace He gives in troubled times. That peace that Jesus brings is the real thing. Remember to keep your focus on the things of God and not the troubles around you. Did you wake up this morning? Be glad and rejoice. You have every opportunity to be joyful today. Yes, you can walk in defeat also, but why would you want to? You have every opportunity to be anything you want, to make a new life for yourself or your family today. Today is a new beginning. The word says we have mercies new every morning. Years ago, I just woke up full of joy because I knew what God had delivered me from and what He brought me into. But, now, with all the things going on in this world I have to purposely focus on the things of God so I can still walk in joy. I have suffered the loss of loved ones, my sister just died in August of 2021 from Covid, both parents are gone, my son is gone, sickness and infirmity has attacked my loved ones, but I tell you now, Jesus is my, way maker, miracle worker, promise keeper, light in the darkenss, and I refuse to forget that. He is my hope when the world feels hopeless. The word tells us to delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Your desires will change as you come closer to the Lord. If you are not sure of the promises of God then you will need to look them up. You can’t stand on something you don’t know. When you know what rights you have as a Christian, you can come through anything, Jesus will carry you through it, and He will bring back your joy! I know He did it for me!! If you are struggling in this area of your life, please let us help you.

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