The scripture teaches us Joy of the Lord is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10).  And James wrote “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations.  Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (James 1: 2-3)   I have had days and circumstance where to count it all joy has been a seemingly impossible task.  How about you?  We can't always control happiness or sadness because those emotions are often driven by life circumstances such as a death, divorce, an illness, the loss of a job and so on.  However we can make a choice to live and walk daily in the joy of our Lord and savior.  We increase joy and gain victory through increasing our knowledge of who Jesus is, and receiving what he has done for us by faith!  “Then said Jesus to those which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples in deed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).  Free from what?  Free from doubt, from worry, from fear, from lack, free from unbelief.  Many folks quote the promise, verse 32; however it is prerequisite in verse 31---“continue in my word” that makes the promise work!  To do this we must begin to train our minds and be renewed in the spirit of our minds (Ephesians 4:23).  Although life may bring difficult circumstances our way we can take heart.  We can rejoice in our omnipresent (always present), omniscient (all knowing), omnipotent (all powerful) loving heavenly father and his son Jesus Christ.   Jesus is the very expression of God’s love for us and to us through the cross and is revealed to us by the power and presence of the Holy Spirit, the comforter (John 14:25-27).   We can rejoice and find comfort because He has said he will never leave us or forsake us (Hebrews 13:5).  Simply put we can choose to deny ourselves and operate in faith, which is simply acting on Gods word regardless of what our circumstances look like.  It’s not about feelings!  Feelings can mislead us.  It’s about trusting in God’s word and His ability to bring us through the fire, calm the storm, turn our mourning into dancing and give us beauty for ashes.  Well excuse me while I shout!  (See Daniel 3, Matthew 8: 23-27, Psalm 30: 10-12, Isaiah 61:2-4)  What an awesome God we serve!!!  

The opposite of faith is fear.  Fear paralyzes us but faith causes us to persevere!  Fear will allow circumstances to control us, rob our joy and drive us to a state of defeat and possibly even depression.  Yes, born again bible believing Christians can and do get depressed, whew I said it!   However Gods word tells us, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, love, and a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:7).   Jesus said, “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy:  I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).   When circumstances overwhelm us, which happens to all of us at some point at times, we need to turn to the Lord, our High Priest and seek His strength.   “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin; Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 15-16).  Even Jesus when he went into the Garden of Gethsemane to pray before he was carried away to be judged in Pilots hall, and ultimately crucified prayed; “Saying Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not mile will, but thine, be done” (Luke 22:42).  Every day we wake up and are alive it is a gift from God.  As the scripture teaches we should Redeem the time, (Colossians 4:5), make the most of every opportunity, and be thankful that today God has given us another day filled with opportunity!   This is the day the Lord has made so go ahead and rejoice and be glad in it! (Psalm 118:24)