stability and strength and joy

God spoke these 3 words to my heart at separate times in the last week, but as I studied each of them, I discovered that they are inextricably connected.  These are words that I want to describe my life, and they are words about which God has much to say.

So often, and today is no exception, I do not FEEL stable or strong or joyful.  And here is the crux of the issue...feelings.  I give my feelings my full attention as though they were undeniable truth.  God gave us our feelings, and they are part of what makes us human.  But, because we are human, we are also sinful, and we allow our feelings to lie to us and lead us away from God, instead of to Him.  I am a deep feeler...I feel my emotions to the extreme, but that doesn't mean that I have to give them the power to rule over me or toss me around like a buoy on waves of water.

We have many choices.  Let our emotions drive us.  Deny and ignore the emotions.  Put up a facade of "all is well".  Acknowledge the feelings and give them to God. 

God wants us to find our stability and strength and joy in Him.  Hebrews 12:1-2 says, "Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.  And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.  We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith."  We can strip off anything that is weighing us down (including our feelings) and give it to God with open hands.  Jesus, I trust you with this. 

Stability, strength, and joy are direct results of being in relationship with God and keeping our focus on Him.  As with any human relationship, time is a necessity to build and maintain our relationships with God.  Time in prayer (speaking AND listening), time in worship, time reading the truth God gave us in the Bible. 

Here are some of the truths that I found.

STABILITY:
Psalm 62:2  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.

Isaiah 26:3-4  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You.  Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal rock.

Psalm 40:2  He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire.  He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. 

Ephesians 3:17  Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in Him.  Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong.  (One of my favorite truths!)

STRENGTH AND JOY:
Psalm 28:7  The Lord is my strength and my shield.  I trust Him with all my heart.  He helps me, and my heart is filled with joy.

Psalm 84:5  What joy for those whose strength comes from the Lord!

Habakkuk 3:18-19  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord!  I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!  The sovereign Lord is my strength!  He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.  (These verses have stability, strength, and joy!!!)

JOY:
Psalm 126:2-3  We were filled with laughter, and we sing for joy.  And the other nations said, "What amazing things the Lord has done for them."  Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us!  What joy!

I Thessalonians 5:16-18  Always be joyful.  Never stop praying.  Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 


Joy is not based on circumstances.  Joy comes from being convinced of and overwhelmed by the love of God and remembering what He has done for us.  First Thessalonians 5 sums it up nicely...always be joyful, never stop praying, be thankful in all circumstances.  Stability and strength and joy will follow.