HOPE in Christ = JOY in Jesus

           Have you had your Joy Juice today?  Rejoice…even when you’re not happy!

            The Bible tells us to “Rejoice in the Lord…..ALWAYS!"  It’s easy to rejoice when things are going well for us; when God answers our prayers; when we feel the “favor of God” in our lives. But what about when that heartache comes?  The times when the unexpected happens and are caught so off guard? Can we still “rejoice”?

            Each of us has had our hearts broken. It’s not a “joyful” place to be, is it? In this world, broken things are despised and thrown out. Damaged goods are rejected, and that sadly, sometimes includes people. The world is full of people with broken hearts, broken spirits and broken relationships.

            Keep in mind that there are some things in our lives that need to be broken: pride, self-will, stubbornness, and sinful habits. When we are broken, God compensates: He says, “I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit” (Isaiah 57:15). The Hebrew word used for the word "contrite"  means "crushed to powder." Do you ever feel as if your heart has been crushed to powder?

             There is always HOPE!  God has promised that He will NEVER leave us alone.  He is near, and if you let Him, He will deliver you out of the brokenness!

     All children of God can have hope and joy in Jesus!