Joy of the Lord!!!!

"We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed"
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

I have a Bible study/coaching time with a couple girls after school on Tuesday and we're going through some tough issues including Bad Habits, Demons, Depression, Drug Abuse, Enemies, Fear, Loneliness and a few more. We're discussing them and reading what the Bible says about them. Today we're looking at depression, the book I have goes as far to say that

"Depression is possibly responsible for more pain and distress than any other affliction of mankind."

One key point I came across is that when we're depressed we usually just want to feel better rather than actually finding out the reason why we're depressed.

Another great quote from Billy Graham:
"Discouragement is the very opposite of faith. It is Satan's device to thwart the work of God in our lives. Discouragement blinds our eyes to the mercy of God and makes us perceive only the unfavourable circumstances."

When I think of any time I was depressed I was most definitely focusing on the bad things and ignoring anything good. I was usually very caught up in my own feelings, what was happening to ME and how I felt. Stuck in selfishness.

Depression may very well be the most common felt symptom of a broken and hurting world in need of saving.
BUT even in the midst of suffering we can look to a loving God, give all our sorrow and pain to Him and ask Him for joy instead!!! How Great is our GOD!!! :D

...fighting for joy in God

Another quote...

The difference between desire for God and delight in
God is important mainly to make clear that finite creatures like us, who
have a spiritual taste for the glory of God, will always want more of
God than we presently experience—even in eternity. There will always
be more of God to enjoy. Which means there will always be holy
desire—forever.

In this age that is frustrating. We kick ourselves that our cravings
for lesser things compete with God as the satisfaction of our souls.
Rightly so. This is a godly grief. We do well to be convicted and penitent.
We know that we have tasted pleasures at his right hand, and that
our desires for them are pitifully small compared to their true worth. It
is helpful at this point to be reminded that our desires—no matter how
small—have been awakened by the spiritual taste we once had of the
presence of God. They are an evidence that we have tasted. It is also
helpful at this point to be reminded that our desires are only a tiny part
of what is to come. The strength of our desire is not the measure of the
strength of the final pleasure. That truth can rescue us from despair and
keep us fighting in this fallen world for all the joy possible in God.
When I don't Desire God: Fighting for Joy -John Piper

There is so much competing for my attention.
No wonder I get so easily discouraged and drained. This is a fallen world, not the way it's supposed to be. So when I'm just living in this world and not coming back to the hope that God gives us as we long for perfection, no wonder I get down. Without God life sucks, read Ecclesiastes if you don't believe me, everything is meaningless.
God gives life meaning, purpose, passion, excitement and joy. Not that everything is perfect now, but we know and trust that one day it will be because there won't be anything between us and God anymore.
I'm saying this as much to remind myself as to encourage you. I hope it's some encouragement.

"The intensity of our pleasure and our desire bear witness of his worth to the
world, especially when we are freed by this (present and hoped for) pleasure
to leave the pleasures of this world for a life of sacrifice and love
for others." Piper

I love it, because when I find joy, delight and pleasure in God, not only am I bringing glory to God and a joyful and happier person myself I am also able to show others that God is real and He's the reason for my joy.
That's actually an area that lately I've been disappointed in myself. I say I'm a Christian to my friends and family, but if they only see me moping around, lethargic and grumpy, God is not going to look very attractive to them. That scares me because I want more than anything for my family and friends who don't know God to have Him come into their life. I know it's up to God and not me, but I could still shine a little brighter than I have been.
Ok I'm starting to rant. If you read this, thanks for taking the time to read it and hopefully taking some time today to spend with the One who made us and makes life worth living.

Desiring God

"Out of the blue, as it were, I realized that the bar had
been raised. Manageable, duty-defined, decision-oriented, willpower
Christianity now seemed easy, and real Christianity had become impossible.
The emotions—or affections, as former generations called them—
which I was now free to enjoy, proved to be beyond my reach. The
Christian life became impossible. That is, it became supernatural.
Now there was only one hope, the sovereign grace of God. God
would have to transform my heart to do what a heart cannot make itself
do, namely, want what it ought to want. Only God can make the
depraved heart desire God. Once when Jesus’ disciples wondered about
the salvation of a man who desired money more than God, he said to
them, “With man it is impossible, but not with God. For all things are
possible with God” (Mark 10:27). "

This is from a John Piper book, I thought it really helped get to the heart of our Christian lives.
It shows the two types of Christianity, the "do the right things, say the right things" kind and the kind where God is given permission to work in our hearts and make us who we can't be on our own.
But it's so hard to give God my heart and leave it with Him and not take it back. I keep attempting to be a Christian on my own, even though I know it won't work.

I'm still struggling with joy and finding it. It's so easy to blame external factors: lack of sleep, business etc. but I know it's deeper than that.
It's a reflection of my heart and where I'm at with God. But I keep trying harder instead of just letting God.

The book "When I don't Desire God: How to fight for joy" caught my attention, so I just started reading it online. That's where that quote is from.

“Restore to me the
joy of your salvation” (Ps. 51:12)