Joy In All Things

It's funny how sometimes you look back and realize there had been a whole series of events leading up to one big ordeal. I also think it's funny how God works sometimes. Since I have moved back to Indiana I have had so much time to just think. Now, before I go on, you should know I am not a thinker. In fact, on the Meyers Briggs personality test when it came between thinking and feeling, my score was 17 feeling and zero thinking. Anyway, I talked to a friend yesterday about having all this time to think and told her some of my thoughts. (I shouldn't be allowed all this thinking time.) I told her that I was thinking about joy, and my lack of it someday. I got to thinking...Paul tells us he learned to be content in all circumstances, and it's something that we all should learn. Jesus brings us joy. We are encouraged by hundreds of pinterest quotes to embrace the craziness of life, and enjoy it. Well life has been really crazy lately, and I was trying to be all happy and then I realized I was trying to hard. I literally had to let it go, and let my joy come from Christ, despite how things are going right now. I want a joy in all circumstances, not a joy controlled by circumstances. Last night before I went to bed I decided, I am going to claim joy tomorrow...about 20 minutes ago I got off the phone with my friend (while eating chocolate)  after telling her all about this crazy day. Woke up with a headache, crying babies, things not going planned, high stress level, and other crazy stuff and then I told her "and just this morning I said  was going to have joy today!" we both started laughing. Yeah, today was the crappiest day I've had in a while. But..I have my joy. Not going to waste my time worrying about the temporary. :)