A sickly older woman, who has done nothing but try to help the helpless, ends up in a lice-infested concentration camp, where she is underfed and mistreated; yet she smiles, encourages, and dies there with a happy expression on her face.
How did she do that?
(She was real. Her name was Betsie ten Boom, and her sister, Corrie wrote all about it in her book, The Hiding Place, which I highly recommend.)
See, Betsie knew something a lot of people don't: Joy is not a feeling. Joy is a chosen attitude that transcends feelings and circumstances.
Joy says, "I will believe and cling to what I know is true about God. I will trust Him with my life no matter what circumstances I am walking through now."
So, I can feel happiness and experience joy AND I can feel the depths of sadness and experience joy.
Because joy doesn't depend on my feelings.
It depends on God.
The best and easiest way I have found to experience joy when my feelings don't match up is to list the things I'm thankful for. There is always something to be grateful for, and if I can't think of one, then I must be determined to live in the pits. And that would be an attitude problem on my part.
In her book, One Thousand Gifts, Ann Voskamp does a beautiful job describing how gratitude and joy go together. Read it if you can. I don't think you'll be disappointed!
Joy is always within your grasp. Just choose it!
INNER BEAUTY NUGGETS:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. James 1:2-3
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Philippians 4:4
OUTER BEAUTY TIP:
Healthy School Breakfast Ideas: Winter Edition!
Click here to view video!
Smile!
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