Sporty Cute.
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Joy is not an emotion...
True spiritual joy is not happiness. No, "happiness" is an emotion, a state of good fortune and success related to our circumstances. If all is going well, we are happy, but as soon as some dark cloud or irritation enters our life, our feeling of happiness vanishes. I'm sure you're aware that pain is a fact of life. Contrary to our wishes, easy circumstances are not life's norm. Jesus warned, "In this world you will have trouble" (John 16:33). Paul explained, "Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted" (2 Timothy 3:12). In the midst of that reality of pain and sorrow, God's joy is a grace gift. He give his joy to us as we encounter the hardships, tribulation, problems, and persecutions of life. Amazingly, this supernatural joy, given through God's spirit, transcends all of the tough conditions of life.
As God's child, you can experience and enjoy God's joy- regardless of what life offers you. You can truly and genuinely be happy... no matter whats going on around you. Thats because your joy as a Christian:
1) is not dependent on circumstances, but on the spiritual realities of God's goodness, His unconditional love for you, and His ultimate victory over sin and darkness.
2) is not based on your efforts, accomplishments, or willpower, but rather on the truth about your relationship with the Father through the son.
3) is not merely an emotion, but the result of choosing to look beyond what appears to be true in your life to what is true about your life in Christ.
Joy is a sense of well-being that abides in the heart of the person
who knows all is well between them and the Lord.
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