“Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock may be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.  The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer’s feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills.”   ~Habakkuk 3:17-19 NKJV

Do you remember the song we have sung or have heard our children sing?

“I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart…down in my heart to stay!”

May we consider during this Lenten Season that HAPPINESS depends on our life circumstances – but JOY does not.  We will have many seasons in our lives where we may feel we are not bearing fruit through our ministries, or in our daily lives with family or friends; we may not know happiness.  Jesus said life would not be easy.

One solid foundation we can be sure of is that no matter what we face as we journey in this life on earth, we will ALWAYS be able to feel and know the JOY that only God in his infinite love and grace provides.  Every day we can get up grumpy or we can get up being assured we will be “up” in the Joy of God – God’s JOY can sustain us all day long – no matter what our circumstances.

During Lent, may we take time to pray, repent, give thanks and appreciate not just happiness when it comes along, but hold fast to the knowledge we ALWAYS have - “…joy, joy, joy, joy, down in my heart…down in my heart to stay!”

“This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it