Oh the Joy!

Seeing my girl cousin spin carefree in the back yard. Her face lit up with joy and her bubbly laughter. Oh the joy of a child! Carefree and cheerful, just spinning. Running and leaping like no one is watching. Swinging high into the blue sky. Oh the joy!
Why is it so hard for us to be joyful? Why is hard for us to laugh and just spin carefree? I think deeply on this. Is it because of our stress? Our busyness in life? Is it because we are afraid of what people might think? Why? A child, they have not a care in the world. They don't compare themselves to others. They don't have to worry about school or what's ahead. They always have a smile and their face is lit up with joy.
I think I know why it is hard to be full of joy. Stress, worry, comparing, anxiety, it weighs us down. It holds us captive from having joy. These things will eventually kill us.
BUT, we have a Savior who can BREAK THE CHAINS THAT HOLD US CAPTIVE. We have to release to God the things that hold us back. Let God do His thing. He will break the chains! Stress, He relieves. Worry, He calms our fears. Comparing, He loves us. Anxiety, He gives us peace. He breaks the chains! We can spin, we can laugh, we can swing, we can be full of joy in ALL things because we know that HE IS GOD. He is joy!

Always be full of Joy in the LORD. REJOICE!  -Philippians 4:4

I could sit here and write much more about joy. Joy. This word has got me thinking a lot lately. I will write more on joy soon.... =) 

"May the LORD bless you and keep you. May He cause His face to shine upon you and give you grace and peace."

~Blessings~