Sometimes joy seems impossible to find in certain situations. Not all days appear to be joyful. Sometimes life gets hard and we're stressed out and don't even want to look for joy because it's easier to hone in on the chaos and feel overwhelmed. Let me reassure you, you're not alone — but joy can be found in everyday life.

Let me start by clarifying: there is a difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is found in circumstances, but joy is found in God. Happiness is temporary and easily fades, but the joy of the Lord can endure all trials. This definitely does not mean that we should go through every minute of every day with a smile on our face and bee bop through life. It's normal to feel other emotions; even Jesus cried. However, even in the midst of stressful days, heartache, or long weary nights, we can still find joy.

Hold on, you probably think I've lost my mind, right? Stay with me here. When I say joy, I don't mean laughing so hard that your stomach hurts or not being able to wipe a smile off your face because you are so thrilled about something; that's happiness. When I'm talking about joy, I'm talking about knowing who holds your future and having an everlasting hope that everything will work out for good. Being so secure in God's Word and His promises can help us find joy in every situation. After all, happiness is not a fruit of the spirit, but joy is.

It is something that we must remind ourselves to seek out. If I'm having a bad week and I know I will be distracted from looking for joy in troubled times, I often write "joy" somewhere I know I'll see it often. Whether that be on my mirror, a note to put on my desk, or even on my wrist (which is where it currently is written right now), I want to remind myself that joy is always obtainable through Christ. Sometimes I need to force a smile on my face and that's all it takes for it to become genuine. A change of attitude and a change of heart. I often take "Jesus drives" and just blare worship music as I drive around with the windows down and talk to God for a little bit. Getting in the Word and reading God's promise that the joy of the Lord is my strength is a great reminder.

So no matter what you're going through, never forget where your joy comes from. Don't mistake happiness for joy. Let the Lord fill you with such joy so that you can be an example to others that might be facing similar battles. Never give up on seeking joy daily.