bride-and-groom
          Let’s evaluate more issues that we ladies can experience while awaiting the arrival of our groom…
Expectations
          Relationship anxiety is rampant today. Little girls learn very early of an impending wedding day to take place in their future. But as time passes without the expected nuptials, our internal voice begins chattering. It recites a litany of girlfriends who’ve marched down the aisle and into married life. Eventually the very word “marriage” can cause fits of “Why me, Lord?” or “Why not me, Lord?” as if some right of ours has been denied.
          We can feel exasperation or outright fright when contemplating the ‘lack’ in our lives. This can happen even if we seemingly enjoy a great life, with health and prosperity, family and friends who cherish us, and above all, we have the love of God. So, what’s the trouble?
          The true root is not physical circumstances, but is evidence of a disquiet within our spirit. Our joy is under attack.
Joy
          Joy is a gift from God that we received when we became His. It’s not the same as happiness, which the bible doesn’t even promise. There are too many possible causes for happiness to number, and people can be happy one minute and unhappy the next. Happiness is a nebulous emotional state, alterable by the slightest internal or external sensations, but joy is totally different.
          It’s spiritual, a condition that inhabits our very being, present regardless of circumstances, unrelated to any temporary realities. It is not an up and down feeling, or a fleeting emotion, but is always ours to claim through our habitation by Holy Spirit. Happiness is transitory, but joy is readily available if we will embrace it.
          Consider these truths about Joy:
 Psalms 16:11 – “You will make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; in Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore.”
 Psalms 30:5 – “Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning.”
 Romans 15:13 – “Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 James 1:2 – “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.”
 Nehemiah 8:10 – “…Do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
 Galatians 5:22 – “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy…”
 John 16:22 – “Your heart will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away from you.”
Note that this promised joy is unrelated to the situation. Weeping, trials, grief and woes could possibly come against us, but are ultimately unimportant because joy is ours regardless.
          Joy in the Lord is a blessing from Father. But we must jettison the false notion that just because we’re saved, God will always make us happy. He’s said no such thing, and there are few “happiness” scriptures. That doesn’t mean, however, that we’re doomed to misery. If we embrace our rightful joy, we will defeat the enemy’s efforts to dampen, negate, or steal our joy. And true happiness will result!
          So how can we claim, or regain and keep this precious gift from God? By adjusting our focus. Whatever we concentrate on will manifest in our lives. No one is immune to the promptings of Satan, and bad thoughts will sometimes occur. But for a believer, negativity should be as fleeting as the shadow of a bird overhead.
          On a relationship level, joy is one of the most attractive qualities a lady can possess in the eyes of a godly man. More than her face or figure, a joyful spirit and a smiling countenance beckon, because they indicate that this woman is pleased with his company, and that he can make her happy. Believing that he’s a cause for her joy can be uniquely pleasurable for a man and helps make her special in his sight.
          So, smile and enjoy the people you meet. Your joyful radiance will draw them like the attractions of a warming fire on a wintery day.
          Until next week…Joy and Shalom!

Jo Lynne Pool