There is a chorus we use to sing several years ago with the title: The Joy of the Lord Is My Strength. All the years that this chorus was popular I liked singing it for a couple of reasons. First, it was fun from the musical arrangement and second, it had rhythm to clap to which engaged everyone while singing it. What I missed all those years was the deeper meaning of the lyrics–The joy of the Lord IS my strength.

I have never thought of joy as something other than an emotion that felt nice. Learning to live as a new creation I’m beginning to discover all of the misconceptions I’ve had throughout my life. Yes, JOY is known to us from an emotional standpoint, but this JOY has a lasting effect on us that IS Strength. When I complete something that I’ve been nudged to do there is a tremendous joy within that is confirmed by God’s Holy Spirit. This very joy then becomes the strength to carry on for this joy is quite different from being happy. This joy stays with us helping us to continue on. Happiness is wonderful at the moment, but it fades quickly as whatever generated it goes away.

Being obedient to stepping into the counseling program was nothing less than FEAR. This lasted for months as I prepared, yet I knew it was something God had planted and I was to follow through. Now, 1.5 years later, it brings such great JOY watching God work in the lives of those coming. This JOY is strength to carry on. I get choked up as I write this for I know where I came from and the gripping disgrace I carried. Every last part of what I called disgrace is now a tool in the Master’s Hands. God is SO AMAZING!