Joy, hope and faith

Think about what brings you joy.

(Joy, defined here as that unexplainable feeling of wellness 
that is not dependent upon situations or circumstance.)

No, really, stop right now.

Take as much time as you need to identify what brings you joy.

Got it?

Hold on to it.

Write it down if you need to.

Do whatever it takes for you to be able to recall it.

The next time life throws a nasty punch at you, 
one that takes your breath away, 
sends you reeling, 
knocks you senseless,
takes you to the ground, 
makes you question how you will ever go on, 
I challenge you to think about what brings you joy.

No, really, decide right now 
that you will stop right then,
in the midst of the chaos.

To take as much time as you need to identify what brings you joy.

And when you have it firmly in mind again, hold on to it.

Do whatever it takes to focus on joy.

Why? 

Because in the midst of our suffering,
identifying what brings us joy, 
can fuel rejoicing, 
which is the beginning of hope,
and hope is an integral part of our faith.

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,  and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us."

Romans 5:3-5

"Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, 

the conviction of things not seen."

Hebrews 11:1