Joy Inexpressible

1 Peter 1:8 (NIV)

Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy. 

A lot of people in my life have described me as a happy and positive person. Some people love that about me and some find my ‘chirpiness’ a little much but when people get to know me more they see there are a lot more emotions going on in my day to day life. I cry a lot! I can be feisty, serious, hangry, stubborn (the list goes on) because life is not always easy and there are things that happen around us which affect how we feel.

 In many ways I would not use the word happy to describe myself much of the time because happiness seems to rely so heavily on life going well or the way you want it to, but I do believe God has filled me with Joy. Joy that has been placed on my heart and surpasses my unmet worldly expectations, my challenges and my insecurities because despite what life looks like, I know the love of God. 

It doesn’t make sense and it's not supposed to, as God defies all reason, but the joy of the Lord has power and can change how you see the world and how others see it too. We express or release our emotions in order to move on, but God fills us up to overflowing with joy because it isn’t meant to vanish but instead become a well in our hearts. This joy, which is infectious like laughter, can bring about a change in people's lives when they encounter it.

Prayer — Lord despite our circumstances, our feelings and our surroundings, I pray that you can fill us with inexpressible joy today. Let it ripple out into the hearts of others that surround us so that they know the overwhelming love that you have for them.