Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. -Romans 15:13

How do we choose joy? Does joy meet us in our situation or must we seek it out? Does it come from our surroundings or people? No. Joy is an outcome. It is an untamable reaction that comes from understanding and living in the Father's love for us. Nothing else. True, unwavering joy can come from nowhere else but our Father. Joy is different than happiness. Joy does not leave during trials nor does it fleet during a rough day. It is steadfast and constant because it comes from a steadfast and constant God.

The absolutely incredible gift that He has blessed us with is all the astounding ways that He expresses that love. This is the part we must open our eyes to. His gifts surround us and yet we stay focused on everything that is not going according to our plan. There is absolutely no way that we could not accumulate complete joy if we focused on our God. If we truly realized how absolutely sinful and dirty we were and how in need we were for a Savior and saw our salvation as our Father loves us astonishingly more than we can ever comprehend, we would not be able to contain our rejoicing.

God also does this amazing thing where He reveals His love through the time we spend with Him. God hands joy out like He has a never-ending supply or something. (Which is true.) His word brings so many faithful, fulfilled promises and so many more promises that are to come to fulfillment that I can not help but feel giddy with excitement when I read the Bible. He alone brings His goodness and His faithfulness to fruition. Going to Him, seeking Him out, obeying Him, and placing Him at the head of your life these are all the causes for the effect of joy. He is the source, and He is just waiting and hoping you will claim His joy. He does not want us to go through this life without His promise and without His joy.

Yesterday, I got out of my Biology Lab, and it had started raining. I got my raincoat out of my backpack, and I noticed a guy standing under the awning about to walk in the rain. I had a disposable poncho in my bag, so I offered it to him. He said no that he didn't want to take my poncho and decided to walk through the rain. Imagine that God has this poncho of joy for us that will be so established and never-failing, and yet every day we decide to not take His poncho and walk through the rain letting all of life's difficulties hit us without our unyielding joy to have hope in.

Joy also comes from the different ways He communicates His love to us. A community of faith sharing God's love to one another will forever bring me so much joy. His creation and how it reflects Him and His goodness is remarkably meaningful and mind-blowing to see how He works. Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, "The happiest man is he who learns from nature the lessons of worship." How incredible that creation was made to worship God, just as we are created to worship Him. It brings me such joy to see and take part in the exalting of our God.

The most extraordinary principle of joy coming from the Lord means that the joy is there when nothing else is. When I am at my loneliest, joy is there. When my self-esteem is at its lowest, joy is there. When I feel like I have nothing, I have joy. Joy is there because the Lord is there, and in that, I will forever rejoice.

Our God is great, and His word holds true, and His promises are always accomplished. It is these truths that I hold on to, and through these truths an outcome of joy is unavoidable. I can't help but smile my biggest smile when I ponder over how much the Lord cherishes me and how good He has been to me. I can't help but sing of His wonders with all of the bliss in my soul despite not knowing a tune. I can't help but lift my hands in praise to the One who promises and brings about this eternal joy. I've got a joy, joy, joy down in my heart... choose it.