The first half of my life I was addicted to being happy. I followed the trail that always led me to “Happy.” While people draw their “happy” from different things, I drew mine from people. I got my “happy” fix cutting up at school …having fun, not the schoolwork. On dad’s farm, when he was out of town we had tractor races, tractor pulls and driving fast on muddy field roads. I had so much fun in college I flunked out after 3 years. Although I grew up in the Air Force, it was 4 years of insane fun & happy. This life focus continued when I returned to college, my first job and getting married. After four years of marriage Mary & I found ourselves sitting with a counselor. Here I came face-to-face with the shocking reality, I could not make everyone happy. Six years later God brought both Mary & I to our knees (literally) when we discovered “Happy” is a passing illusion. Happy is a condition-based, emotional response to what I, or someone else, has done. God took our “happy” away so that we might discover the source of Joy.

God gave us His Word to reveal His heart. He gave us living examples of His Transformational Power. After young David was anointed to be king, King Saul and his armies tried to kill him for years. Listen to these powerful words written during this time. From Psalm 28:7

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and He helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise Him.”

Note, David’s focus is not on the conditions, nor on himself, but on God, his only Hope.

Since 1984 God has provided storms to teach me the richness of His Joy. Our RV is located on Lake Conway, which happened to be flooding at the time. After supper Mary & I prepared the RV to be moved the next day. God used His “Special Ways” to teach me His Truths the next morning, It was at the 5:30am Bible Study Fellowship leaders meeting when I responded to a discussion question that God set the stage. I responded to one of the discussion questions with James 1:2, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.” When I arrived at the lake 3 hours later the flood water made it impossible for me to move the RV. I tried everything and nothing worked. I was standing in the rising water when Mary told me our insurance did not cover flooding. Then I heard the whisper. It was so real & clear. “Count it all Joy Huh!” BAM! God fed my own words back to me. This was a Lab Session in God School. Would I walk the talk? God made His Word personal. With tears of Joy I called Mary and said, “I’m coming home. He gave us this property & the RV. It’s His for whatever He wants.”  In Romans 15:13 we discover the key to Joy, “TRUST.” “May the God of Hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” It’s Trust! We activate this key from the guidance found in PSALM 43:3 “There I will go to the altar of God, to God—the source of all my Joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!”

The world does not know or understand God’s gifts to His Followers because only Believers in Christ have been given the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit enables & empowers Christ followers with the precious gifts found in Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness.” Stop and dwell on these qualities, Love, Joy, Peace, Forbearance, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness. Only Creator God can give you these qualities.

Isn’t it time you stopped chasing the world’s temporary counterfeit qualities and found Peace in His Love? Jesus said, “I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Just call out to Him. Wherever you are He is patiently waiting. He will “…make known to me the path of life; you (God) will fill me with Joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11