From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Did you ever hear the old saying, “Looking for love in all the wrong places”? Well, it’s just as true if we say, “Looking for joy in all the wrong places.”

So often, we suffer greatly in that quest for joy—we come up short and shaken. Duh—that’s because you’re looking for joy in the wrong place. This earth is cursed because of sin; everything is tinged with some of that brokenness, so that joy you seek will always be fleeting. Nothing here is perfect, only God is perfect. And in His perfection and in His presence will you find that joy so elusive in the natural world.

Disappointments, rejection, lack, loss—we categorically feel it in our lives, and sometimes the journey can really stink. But all that changes in Jesus. Many times the circumstances don’t change but, with Christ in you, you change and can rise above the situations.

Develop intimate closeness with the Lord (by spending some quiet, focused time in His presence), and when the things and people around don’t bring the joy you need, you still will have a deep, unshakeable inner joy that comes from Him. It’ll change your whole life, so that even when a dark and foreboding event starts rising, you can remain in the peace and wisdom of God.

I don’t mean to bury your head in the sand and not face the circumstances, but to face them with His wisdom, peace and courage. That surpasses anything you can come up with! People, places and things can never give you what God can…settle for nothing less! Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” Endure the fire…it’s producing pure gold!

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