My JOY Journey ~ HOPE, COURAGE, COMFORT

*if you haven't read "the beginning of the end", start there before reading here...

  

FINDING JOY IN HOPE, COURAGE and COMFORT

"From the winds and rains of adversity comes abundant growth and a beautiful life." ~ "Joy for the Journey"

Genesis 21:14-19

*PROMISES about ... 1) Growing through Adversity 1 Peter 4:12-13; Psalm 138:7; 2 Corinthians 2:14 2) helping you Trade Hurt for Wholeness Psalm 34:18-19; Matthew 11:28-29; Isaiah 35:10 3) Forgiving Others Mark 12:30-31; Ephesians 4: 32; 1 Timothy 6:11; Matthew 5:7 4) Struggling through Heartache Psalm 9:9-10; Psalm 138:3; Isaiah 58:11 5) helping you Be/Become Strong in the Broken Places Psalm 57:7; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Psalm 138:8 6) helping when you Walk through Deep Waters Isaiah 43:2; Psalm 23:4; Psalm 56:8, 11 7) Seeking Shelter in God Psalm 17:8; Psalm 113:7,9; Psalm 27:5 8) helping you Wait Patiently Psalm 130:6; James 1:2-4; James 5: 7-8 9) helping you Find Safety in God Psalm 4:8; 2 Corinthians 6:16; Joshua 24:17 10) Learning God's Lessons Joshua 1:9; Psalm 61:1; Psalm 86:3-4 11) Remembering God's Faithfulness Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 89:2; 1 Corinthians 1:9 12) Resting in God's Peace Philippians 4:6-7; John14:27; Jude 1-2

In this "valley" that I have spent far too much time in, I have been struggling to overcome and rely on the tools of HOPE, COURAGE and COMFORT, when I find myself without His JOY.
Yes, sometimes I may even have been hopeless, lacked courage, and wallowed in distress even when I knew that I was blessed, I was in this "pit" ... not so much having a "pity party" but searching to rise above and soar. The only source that gives me "hind's feet" for the high places, comes from the Word of God and the Presence of His Holy Spirit, who is my Comforter, breathing HOPE and COURAGE into this wandering pilgrim seeking the higher ground. I seek my shelter in God and steady my feet on Him, my Solid Rock. I desire to grow through any adversity, and trade hurt for wholeness! I want to learn each and every lesson God wants/ed to teach me through my circumstances. I no longer want to struggle with heartache or brokenness or drown in deep waters. I will wait patiently as I find my safety in God. I rest in God's peace and will never forget His Great Faithfulness to me. Fortunately, forgiving others is a grace that He gives me easily as I need His forgiveness so often that I readily forgive others, even ones responsible for the pain and heartache or no longer around to let them know I forgive... I have forgiven. 
Yes, these are the Promises and the place I linger far too often, but I am learning to press on and find my JOY in HOPE, COURAGE and COMFORT! It's not easy to grow in that place of adversity, whatever the circumstance, we can find that JOY from within... and with HOPE in Him, His Courage and His Comfort we begin. 
Thank You, Lord! Thank You for helping me every step of every day! Thank You for encouraging me and sending others to lift my spirit when I was faltering. Thank You for fresh manna that restores my soul and gives me the strength to keep seeking You first and foremost. You are my Hope! You are my Courage! You are my Comfort! You are my Strength! Yes, Lord, the Joy of You is my strength for each new day! Joy is of the heart! You reign in mine!


*Part 5 in "Joy for the Journey" book