Happiness = external, while joy = internal. Happiness is a feeling (emotion) that is connected to our external circumstances. If we are doing something we enjoy at the moment (for me it is doing something actively outdoors), we feel temporarily happy :). Being around certain people in our lives can make us feel happy :). Joy on the other hand is an internal emotion. It is not related to our circumstances, but to our “inner man”. For me, my joy comes from my relationship with God. One of the Fruits of the Spirit is Joy, and if the Holy Spirit is living inside of us, then we have been given joy. Joy is always there because the Holy Spirit is always there!
My “feelings” (emotions) can change multiple times in just one day! I can be feeling excited and strong one minute, like I can “take on anything that day...Bring it!”, and minutes to hours later be feeling sad, or lonely, or anxious about my circumstances...“What am I going to do?”...But that’s just it! These are “feelings” and feelings are so unpredictable.
Emotions (feelings) can come on strong and sudden, when you least expect them. You can be laughing one minute and crying the next! I’ve learned that I can’t always control how I am feeling, but I DO have a choice to remain in those feelings. I can consciously make an effort to change how I am feeling at that moment. Sometimes I will literally say out loud (or internally), “Stop!” When I do this, it interrupts my thought process.
I am currently working on recognizing these feelings as soon as they start so that I don’t allow myself to dwell in them for too long. In the past, I would let myself remain in my sadness and self-pity, feeling down and depressed, crying, at times not even able to really function in my day. This happened after my divorce and after my last relationship (the one prior to this one - the rebound relationship). This time around, I am determined, with God’s help, not to let that happen!
By NO means am I telling you not to allow yourself to feel sadness, grief, loneliness, hurt, or anger, as these are all normal parts of the grieving process. Just don’t allow yourself to get stuck and remain in any one stage. Eventually, we have to move forward into forgiveness and acceptance of what happened, so we can move forward in our lives and live fully the life God has for us! For every person, this process is different and will take different amounts of time. Just remember that you don’t have to stay in those emotions or let them rule over you.
**Don’t let the enemy reserve a camping spot in your life! Send him packing the minute he arrives! Tell him, “NO VACANCY!”
The Holy Spirit is ever present in us (24/7), guiding us, protecting us, reminding us of the hope and good future God has planned for us. These are the things we should be thinking about. When I start to feel those negative, overwhelming thoughts and feelings start to creep in, I start to think about scripture verses, and at times, speak His Word out loud. It really does work! His Word never returns void.
I challenge you to make your own 30 day challenge. For the next 30 days, when those feelings start to take hold of you, get out the scripture verses you have written down, think about them, speak them out loud, and see how you “feel”! God wants you and me to have victory over the enemy and his lies! Remember, God has already overcome the world and all of the evil in it when He sent His son Jesus to die on the cross for you and for me! Not because of anything we’ve done, but because of His love for us and His desire to spend eternity with us!
Joy is something that no one can take from us, for "True Joy" comes from the Lord!
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| (This is what's over that Mountain!)
Cher-LIFE and live WELL
\o/Cheryll |