I have been living the abundant life God has promised me? What does that really look like? Am I supposed to feel happy all the time if I’ve got this “thing” down?  My answer to my own question is no and I don’t know.

No, I feel like there is certainly more abundance God wants for me, but I don’t really know what that looks like, and it would be impossible to be human and be happy all the time. I am chasing after the one thing that I know is real, what I know God desires for me, and I know I need desperately: Joy. Real joy. From Him.

Every day of our lives, wonderful, good things happen that bring pleasure and contentment and beauty to us. At the exact same time, painful things happen to us or those we love that disappoint us, hurt us, and fill us with sorrow. These two things — both joy and sorrow — run parallel to each other every single moment of our lives.

This is why we can be having an amazing and fun experience and still have the realization that all is not perfect in life. And on the contrary during some of the darkest times we can see a light, some beauty and hope is still to be found. These go together in this crazy and beautiful thing called life.

I want true joy that radiates through the good and bad, the easy and the hard. The kind that no one can touch because it’s not tangible; it doesn’t decrease or increase with my mood and my circumstances. I want an intense, unshakable joy in the Lord.

So what does joy look like? My spirit tells me that it is being with Him more. Time in His presence, really allowing Him to move in me. Time in His word, letting His words penetrate until they are complete truth.

"I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." -John 15:11

I hunger to trust Him so deeply, to see His good heart and good plans. Even the most trying times can’t shake me because I am convinced that my Father is already there before me. I want to walk through my life at peace, trusting that He is doing everything I could NEVER do! There is so much freedom in that. I am not perfect, but He is.

True joy is not hiding from the real and undeniable things that come our way in life. It comes from having a deep assurance that God is working for good in ALL things. I have a choice to choose His joy and Praise Him through it all.

I MUST believe Him when He says “cast all your anxiety on me” and “do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34).

He lets me know again and again if I can just give it to Him, He will take it and not let me down. So I must.

Do you want this joy? I do! He is offering and I am accepting. I invite you to join me.