...the secret to joy is to keep seeking God where we doubt He is. Ann Voskamp
Many people I know, those who don't believe in God and those who do, doubt God's presence in this life. They doubt his presence in natural disasters that take lives and ruin homes. They doubt his presence in tragedy like a gunman killing 20 children and 6 adults in a day. They doubt his presence in fill in the blank. And when we doubt God's presence we lack joy. I know there are those who will disagree with me but it is true. It's so true I will say it again. When we doubt God's presence we lack joy. We lack authentic, honest, and true Joy. How is it possible, you may wonder, to have Joy in the midst of what seems to lack God? Because God isn't missing, he's there. Sometimes we have to look for him. Sometimes he doesn't just make himself obvious. In 1 Kings we see an example of this. He's not in the obvious wind, fire, etc - he's found in the gentle, barely discernable breeze. Was he not in the wind, fire, etc? Oh yes, he was but to discover him in the breeze brought Joy. To discover that he is truly where we don't think he is, is to have and possess Joy. For those who have lost homes and loved ones in tragedy he is there and there is Joy to be had. For those who have fill in the blank he is there and there is Joy to be had. Perhaps to understand this one has to understand Joy and what it really is. It isn't happy feelings, it isn't dependent on circumstances, it isn't situational. Joy is deep and it is strong. It can stand up to any tragedy and any disaster that falls on our lives. And where you find Joy you will find God because he is the author of Joy.
Have you been lacking Joy? Perhaps it would be worth a few minutes to search your heart and see if you are doubting God's presence in any area of your life. Because he's there in your secret places.
Many people I know, those who don't believe in God and those who do, doubt God's presence in this life. They doubt his presence in natural disasters that take lives and ruin homes. They doubt his presence in tragedy like a gunman killing 20 children and 6 adults in a day. They doubt his presence in fill in the blank. And when we doubt God's presence we lack joy. I know there are those who will disagree with me but it is true. It's so true I will say it again. When we doubt God's presence we lack joy. We lack authentic, honest, and true Joy. How is it possible, you may wonder, to have Joy in the midst of what seems to lack God? Because God isn't missing, he's there. Sometimes we have to look for him. Sometimes he doesn't just make himself obvious. In 1 Kings we see an example of this. He's not in the obvious wind, fire, etc - he's found in the gentle, barely discernable breeze. Was he not in the wind, fire, etc? Oh yes, he was but to discover him in the breeze brought Joy. To discover that he is truly where we don't think he is, is to have and possess Joy. For those who have lost homes and loved ones in tragedy he is there and there is Joy to be had. For those who have fill in the blank he is there and there is Joy to be had. Perhaps to understand this one has to understand Joy and what it really is. It isn't happy feelings, it isn't dependent on circumstances, it isn't situational. Joy is deep and it is strong. It can stand up to any tragedy and any disaster that falls on our lives. And where you find Joy you will find God because he is the author of Joy.
Have you been lacking Joy? Perhaps it would be worth a few minutes to search your heart and see if you are doubting God's presence in any area of your life. Because he's there in your secret places.
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