That sounds so pretty, doesn’t it? Joy is closer than you think. Awwww. That’s so special, Candace. Y’all. I am sick and tired of mantras as much as the next person. I am. But I couldn’t think of a better way to convey what you most need to believe before you jump into this study. Joy is most certainly near. There’s a foundational truth that I will be building every thought about joy upon: God is good and He always does good. Because of this, He is the giver of every good and perfect gift. He has designed you to live a life that is full and abundant.
I have had people write to me and tell me that joy is a frivolous luxury. And, ultimately, that is telling me that they believe God is cruel and unkind and makes us work and perform and be deserving of anything good . . . especially joy. That’s simply not the God I know or see throughout the Bible. Because God is good and always does good, I can trust that His promise to give me abundant life will include good things. What’s more “good” than the nearness of our heavenly Father and the fullness of His joy right there by His side? Joy is closer than you think because God is better than you may believe.
Did ya catch that? I mean, REALLY catch that last statement?
Joy is closer than you think because God is better than you may believe.
If you’ll keep that as the filter for everything you will read after this, I know you’ll be surprised at the measure of joy you can and will find.
Who’s in?
Alrighty, then.
Here we go.