A new post for a new thought.

I've been having some sort of writers block lately, which explains why it was so very long since a previous post. Welcome back, if you are one who actually enjoys readings my words and gaining insight towards who I am and what I think about God.
Lately I have been thinking about joy. God has given me a lot of joy in my life. Both throughout my entire life and also now more recently.
Something that I find interesting about joy is that it just is. Nothing has to happen for it be there it just is. And that's what makes it so different from happiness. Now don't get me wrong, happiness is also a very good thing but, it's really different from joy. Even in it's most basic meaning happiness is situational. Think about what other words come from that root. Happen, is the one I think of first. Happiness comes and you may enjoy it for a while but that time is limited and then if you wish to remain happy you need something else to do it.
Joy is overwhelming. And I really didn't believe that it could be overwhelming until the very first time I was overwhelmed with joy. The funny thing about it is that I can remember none of the details such as the what/why/where type things but, I remember only the feeling of overwhelming joy. It's strange and hard to explain. But, it's really cool.

I've been finding the things in my life that remind of the joy that is present in my life.

I played ultimate frisbee tonight. It is one of those things that really reminds me of how much fire and passion God has put inside of me. I'm not the best athlete there but, God is really showing me through this game how he is changing me and how I'm growing in him. I remember when I first started playing this game and how so much of my performance and my attitude in the game was based on happiness. And how I would get so upset if things didn't work out the way I wanted them to. I regretfully admit that during these games I would give into rage and anger and be overly aggressive because things went badly.
And while playing tonight something just really clicked for me and God gave me some good truth. Some good wisdom. The reason I would become so upset, angry, and full of rage was because I was looking for happiness in physical success. Looking back on those times I can honestly say that my attitude indicated that if I didn't win it was a waste of my time. I was looking for happiness in something that wouldn't last. I was pursuing it, obsessing over it, desiring more than was necessary and even the pursuit of this perishable happiness made me miserable...

...but thankfully tonight none of that even mattered. God being the Joy Bringer mattered. God has changed me. And he has equipped me to value his joy more than happiness.

And tonight I thank God for joy that goes beyond understanding, Ibuprofen, knee braces, back braces, and rib braces.