Abundant Joy

We as humans tend to place joy with happy events, when,
in fact, joy is something that runs deep. Happiness rides
on the surface and is subject to change. Joy comes out of
a faith that believes God loves me, will always love me,
that He is for me, and works everything to my good.

Oswald Chambers speaks of the overwhelming waves
that are a thrill to the surfer:

'Huge waves that would frighten an ordinary swimmer pro-
duce a tremendous thrill for the surfer who has ridden them. 
Let's apply that to our own circumstances. The things we 
try to avoid and fight against--tribulation, suffering, and 
persecution--are the very things that produce abundant joy 
in us.'

'In all these things we are more than conquerors through
Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death,
nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor 
things present, nor things to come, nor height nor depth,
nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from 
the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.'
(Romans 8:37-39)