Are you happy?

Are you happy?

Has it been way too long since you've even felt happy?

Have you forgotten what it even feels like?

I thought a lot about being happy while driving home from running some errands yesterday. It seems that with so many things going on in my life...and the lives of those around me....I've not felt much happiness lately

(well, except for how the boys make me feel)

So many times we allow life in general to rob us of our happiness.

Yesterday....I felt happy.

It must have showed, too....because we were out with Jess yesterday afternoon, and she even commented on my "good mood".

There's a big difference between being "happy"...and being "joyful".

Did you know that?

You can be full of the joy that only being a Christian can bring....and still not be happy. I've had some things troubling me lately...things that have robbed me of being happy. But, even though I might not have felt happiness....I was still very blessed to be full of the joy that the Holy Spirit brings. I've attended some wonderful church services in the past few weeks, where the Holy Spirit was definitely in the house. Sunday night at church, we had an amazing singing group come and bless us in song....and my heart again filled up to almost the point of bursting!!!!

Often, even in the midst of feeling the joy that only the Holy Spirit can bring....we're still faced with problems that rob us of our happiness. I'm so very much reminded of Job when I think along these lines. Job had absolutely nothing to be happy about. He had lost his sons and his daughters and every single thing that made up his "wealth"....but, in the midst of it all....he still remained "joyful" in that He wouldn't turn his back on his Savior...because Job knew where his joy and strength came from.

So...long story short...just because you might not be feeling very "happy"....don't mistake...or even compare....that feeling with the feeling of joy!!!

Definition of happy....glad, or pleased

Definition of joy....the emotion evoked by well-being

What better state of "well-being"...could any of us experience...than the security of being a child of God....even if we aren't feeling very happy?!?!?!

Psalm 146:5-6 (KJV)
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever.

In His Most Precious Love....and with mine!!!