“Joy Stealers”

 Joy stealers….

In the last 24 hours, I have seen or heard multiple references to “joy” stealers…

1. Living with regrets…

2. Living in the past…

3. Dwelling on the negative…

4. Pain, both physical and emotional…

5. Seeking only oneself’s  gain…

6. Weariness…

7. Anger…

8. Lack of encouragement…

9. Lack of purpose…

10. No direction….

11. No God…

12. ….fill in….

There is a weightedness of lack of joy…both physical and emotional…

My husband suffered from SAD, seasonal affective disorder. Lack of sunshine, light affected his whole being…we didn’t realize this as we lived most of our married life in sunny Nevada…when we would visit either my family or his in the rainy/dreary  times of year, he had to really work at his attitude…and then,  when we moved to western Oregon for a time of school and family, SAD, hit big time. He had to find office space with as many windows as possible, no dark rooms for him…I can remember seeing a dramatic change in his demeanor, descending into the cloud shrouded valley from the Cascades, like a black “cloud” hovering over him…that lack of  graying his moods…a joy stealer…

It is more then worth finding out if the “joy stealer “ is a physical pain or emotion one and address it…like we did with SAD…

But, finding joy in God, His Word in life-changing as well…

Anyone and more of the list above can have the same effect on our lives…a “cloud” follows, enfolds, dwells on us…sapping our strength, causing pain in our minds, hearts and souls….

One of my favorite Books in the Bible is Philippians…written when Paul was was in a “joyless “ place, a prison…he speaks of joy at least 5 times…it is worth reading over and over to see what gave him joy, how he suggested to live joy…

Or other epistles…finding joy…

Or the Psalms…

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm 16:11 

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.

Romans 15:13

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23

 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

James 1:2-4

11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.

John 15:11

And many , many more….Thank YOU….