Living water, to satisfy our deepest thirst, can be found in God\u2019s nearness. God Himself is the source of all Joy.[6]<\/p>\n
But what if life is really hard? What if we\u2019ve said I\u2019ll be okay unless this happens and then it does? What if there\u2019s illness, separation, poverty and loneliness? Where\u2019s the joy then?<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a greater story going on, an eternal story which can chase away every tear. Our lives are so short, but eternal Joy can start today. We can\u2019t live good enough lives to be reconciled to God. Going to church, being nice won\u2019t cut it.<\/p>\n
Jesus invites us, \u201cAre you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Then come to me.<\/em><\/span> I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis.<\/em><\/span> Simply join your life with mine.<\/em><\/span> Learn my ways and you\u2019ll discover that I\u2019m gentle,<\/em><\/span> humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.<\/em><\/span>\u00a0 <\/em><\/span>For all that I require of you will be pleasant<\/em><\/span>\u00a0<\/span>and easy to bear.\u201d<\/em><\/span> (Matthew 11:28-30 TPT)<\/em><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n Teddy, you told me you hadn\u2019t been to church in years and you said you didn\u2019t know why. Perhaps you\u2019ve been disillusioned. Maybe life is hard. I\u2019d love to hear about your journey. We didn\u2019t have much time in the drive through line.<\/p>\n Perhaps you\u2019d say as I did, \u201cI need to clean up my life before I can begin a relationship with God.\u201d<\/p>\n Must we take a bath before we take a shower? God wants us just as we are. He\u2019s waiting to give us all Everlasting Joy, even in the midst of life\u2019s sadness.<\/p>\n He made Him who knew no sin <\/em><\/span>to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (2<\/em><\/span>nd<\/sup><\/em><\/span> Corinthians 5:21)<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Teddy, how do you find Joy in your Journey? Only one way. Being with the One who created the longing in you in the first place. I hope we can talk more.<\/p>\n Joy is a person.<\/p>\n [1] Ecclesiastes 3:11<\/p>\n [2] Psalm 16:11b<\/p>\n [3] James 1:2-4<\/p>\n [4] I Peter 1:6-8<\/p>\n [5] Jeremiah 2:13 (NASB)<\/p>\n [6] Psalm 16:11b<\/p>\n Joy in the Journey is about the gladness of God\u2019s nearness in the midst of life\u2019s adventures.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Subscribe below to get email notifications of new posts. We post a few times a month. Thank you for reading.\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/em>Novels by the Author:<\/span><\/p>\n What happens when a professor figures out how to send messages to his younger self to try and avoid the suicide of his best friend? Did he change more than he bargained for?\u00a0\u00a0Beyond Time<\/a><\/p>\n By finding two undelivered letters in a old shack deep in the woods, Cassie and Daniel unknowing set off a series of events which uncover a plot to wipe out a whole family\u00a0Hope Remains<\/a><\/p>\n \n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Teddy is outwardly friendly and easy to talk to. This afternoon, at the drive through window we struck up a conversation. I mentioned I was a blogger and handed him my card. He asked what my blog is about. I told him I write about finding joy in our journeys. He smiled and said he … Continue reading How do we Find Joy in Our Journeys?<\/span> ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/joy-in-the-journey.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/10407876_10205268823978740_56971566099135395_n-1-e1454540429213.jpg\")