joy repeated

This is a re share of a post I wrote March of 2013, I desperately needed it today so I thought maybe someone else would as well...

There have been many times in my life where I have struggled with finding joy. I wouldn't call it depression but they were just times when I didn't feel right, just not quite myself. At some point in my early/mid twenties I feel like God started opening my eyes to the circumstances around it so that I could begin to pinpoint when it might happen or at least when it did happen what the cause might be. It usually comes along side times where I'm (1) exhausted (2) have a lot of things on my plate/in my brain and get overwhelmed (3) haven't been able to spend time with friends who encourage me (4) letting the lives others make me feel discontent with where I am in my own life. I"m pretty sure it's not a coincidence either that when any or all of these four things are going on that the amount of time I spend in prayer or reading my bible is pretty pitiful.

I started feeling these oh so familiar feelings a couple weeks ago when Logan was sleeping horribly because he was teething and Zach was really busy and gone a lot of nights and we were having lots of conversations about different decisions we needed to make. I felt the need to look up verses about JOY so that they would be ready for me to read when I needed them. Knowing my joy does not come from me or my surroundings but only because I am a child of God and that I have an amazing Savior who sacrificed himself so that I could not only have everlasting life BUT that I may also enjoy the life he has placed me in here on Earth despite the circumstances I am in. Don't ask me why I didn't think of this years ago. I guess its just reason one million that I need the Holy Spirit's guide or I'd just keep trying to fix it on my own and failing 

btw I know it's weird but I looked them up starting at the end of the NT and working my way forward. Not sure why but here ya go 

1 Peter 1:8 ...rejoice w/ JOY that is inexpressible and filled with glory

1 John 1:4 And we are writing these things so our JOY may be complete

James 1:2 Count It all JOY (He is sovereign and knows my whole story!)

Hebrews 13:17 (obey with joy not groaning)

! Thessalonians 1:6 w/ the joy of the Holy Spirit (just knowing Him and what He did feels us w/ joy)

Philippians 4:1 my JOY and crown stand firm thus in the Lord (nothing/no one can steal a joy fixed in Christ)

Philippians 2:2 Complete my JOY by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and one mind

Galatians 5:22 The fruit of the Spirit is Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self Control

John 16:22 no one will take your JOY (JOY=Christ's sacrifice, God's forgiveness, our Righteousness through HIM)

John 15:11 ...my joy may be in you and your joy may be full

Habakkuk 3:18 YET I will rejoice in the Lord. I will take Joy in the God of my salvation.

Isaiah 55:12 For you shall go out in JOY...

Isiaiah 35:10 ...they shall obtain gladness and JOY. and sorrow and sighing shall flee away

Proverbs 10:28 The hope of the righteous brings joy

Psalms 119:111 Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart

Psalm 92:4 For you Lord have made me glad by your work; at the works of you hand I sing for joy

**Psalm 51:12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and uphold me with a willing spirit**

Psalm 30:5 ...joy comes in the morning

Nehemiah 8:10 ...the JOY of the Lord is your strength

If nothing else I hope it makes you feel good to know that you're not alone. It always makes me feel good to know that other people struggle with stuff too. no one is perfect...no one has it altogether.