If you have been following my recent posts, you have noticed I have been posting Kay Warrens devotionals ‘Choose Joy’. You may be wondering why choose joy? I have suffered from PTSD and depression for most of my life and have even battled with suicide. For the longest time I had confused joy with the feeling of happiness. Learning that joy was more than a feeling has helped me a great deal. Joy is not a life free from pain and misery, or trials and tribulations, but a peaceful assurance that no matter how bad things are, that I will be okay. How can I be okay? It is because that Jesus is for me and with me. That He is my great defender. Jesus is my Savior.
He told me in His Word that the world will hate me not because of anything I do or who I am but because I have Him in me. James tells us to count it all joy when we face trials and tribulation. James 1:2-3 (NKJV) (Profiting from Trials) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
Joy does not come naturally to me, I have to make an effort. This effort is making the choice to choose joy. To allow the joy of the Lord to be my strength. Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Reading scriptures encourage me, and praying to God keeps me connected to Him. Reading studies on joy and teachings on the joy of the Lord help. I hope that the devotionals I am posting help someone.
emotionalpeace 
Joy is a choice we have to make…you are true
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thank you
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Doing the “Choose Joy” is awesome. As someone who with PTSD and having survived what should have been fatal suicide attempts, I can also say that I used to confuse joy with happiness. There is freedom in discovering the difference!
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Thank you for sharing a bit about yourself it helps to know that we are not alone in our struggles.
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No, we really are not. I am not sure why there is comfort in that, because you hate that anyone has to struggle that way. But, it really does help to know we aren’t alone!!
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