Do you have Joy?

How are you doing when it comes to joy?

I just heard Crawford Loritts say something that I really needed to hear:

“Anytime joy is attached to expectations rather than surrender to God’s purposes and plans, we will lose our joy”.

I find that I am often guilty of losing my joy because of misplaced expectations. I recently have been going through a battle of admitting that my expectations are rooted in the wrong things. I came through a very fruitful time of ministry and expected things to go on the same fruitful road. But instead, I’ve hit a roadblock.

I hate roadblocks. I hate traffic. I hate detours.

I want my life to always be smooth sailing.

But what I’ve discovered is that I’ve been waiting for and expecting the wrong thing. And I’ve found myself disappointed because God hasn’t delivered.

Loritts also says that joy is confidence even when we go through hassles, and it is confidence even when we are hurting.

I can have joy in the midst of my difficult circumstances because I am aware and thankful for what God is building in me through it. God’s goal for my life is Christlikeness, not personal comfort!

How quickly I forget this.

God says it this way: “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing” James 1:2-4.

It is more important for God to be glorified through me than for everything to work out just right for me.

Do you believe that deep in your heart?

Here are 4 questions to ask when my joy is slipping:

1.    What is my heart really attached to?

2.    Where is the permanent?

3.    What do I need to know and learn right now?

4.    Is there unconfessed sin in my life?

Don’t wait another minute. Get alone with God, tell him where you’ve slipped, and get your joy back.

You’ll be happy you did!

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