Daily pearls from the shore🫧 A Good Medicine C.S. Lewis in his earlier life defined joy as “an unsatisfied desire which is itself more desirable than any other satisfaction.” Later, he found it as per Psalm 16:12, “You shall show me the path of life; in your presence is the fullness of joy, and at your right hand there is pleasure for evermore.” None of us can deny the longing for joy, but most of us end up looking for happiness. And in a moment, we find happiness, and in another, it isn’t there anymore. And the heart is like a desert again. Dr. P. van Niekerk says, “Joy is a constant state that comes from a place of strength. Joy doesn’t always have to be happiness.” Joy is a profound state of the heart and mind that gives one an ultimate sense of delight filled with peace and wholesomeness. It is independent of circumstances, feelings, and physical responses. A person can be calm, sitting with silent facial or bodily expressions, and can be experiencing the most joyful of moments. Another person may be appearing thrilled, jumping, laughing, having teary eyes while in a state of fullness of joy. Joy is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, which is produced by abiding in the Source and is deeply embedded in the knowledge of belonging to the Source. John 15: 4 says, “abide in me as I abide in you” Nehemiah 8:10 declares that "the joy of the Lord is your strength," In John 15:11,Jesus says, "These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full." It's an ultimate expression of faith in God, trust in His promises, His everlasting, never-leaving presence, His unconditional love, and hope born in His faithfulness in all circumstances. Joy can co-exist in trials, unlike happiness, which is fleeting in challenging hours. Billy Graham puts it profoundly, “… Joy does not mean that we are never sad, that we never cry. Instead, joy is a quiet confidence, a state of peace in the heart of the believer.” The Apostle Paul famously wrote his letter to the Philippians 4:4 about "Rejoice in the Lord, always…” Galatians 5:22-23 mentions joy as a fruit that results from the internal transformation through the work of the Holy Spirit in us. Forgiveness and compassion prepare the ground, and gratitude and generosity nurture this plant to bear the fruit of joy. Joy is not passive. It’s an active daily choice regardless of comfortable or challenging circumstances. As David says in Psalm 118:24, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” He makes an active choice regardless of his circumstances. “Joy does not simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day." — Henri Nouwen. Joy is not available in the carnal things. It is eternal, so it can only be found in the eternal. To get it, we need to approach the eternal source. “... Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” (John 16:24) A persistent lack of joy—often called anhedonia is often the result of consistent performance in our own strength, which eventually wears us out, leaves us drained, and burnt out. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” (Proverbs 17: 22) As you navigate back to the Source, you can rekindle your joy. "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit". (Romans 15:13) If you have struggles with feelings of numbness, anxiety, depressive thoughts, or hopelessness, allow us to help you reclaim your joy; contact: Voice Of The One Calling @ +918437213863 #JoyAndHappiness #burntoutprofessionals #christiancounsellors #medicineandjoy #numbnessandtingling