Proved Joy
I love joy. So anytime someone is writing a book on joy I am most likely to check it out. But when I heard Margaret Feinberg was writing a book on joy after battling cancer during the last year and half, I could hardly wait to get my hands on the book. Because this book was going to be war-tested and genuine book on real joy.
Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. (1 Peter 1:7, MSG) And real joy put in the fire comes out of it proved joy.
Proved joy is real joy. It’s not just happiness. It’s not wish-washy. It’s not circumstantial. It’s God-ordained, God-inspired and God-breathed. It’s real even during the hardest battles of our lives.
Margaret writes in her brand-new book Fight Back With Joy: Celebrate More. Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest Fears “During the last year and a half, I felt my way through the darkness of despair and stared death in the face. Somewhere along the way God unveiled a spectrum of joy I had never experienced—from the joy expressed as lighthearted laughter in an impossible situation to the joy gained from hearing the deep voice of God during times of great pain.”
Margaret continues “Through it all, I learned something startling: More than whimsy, joy is a weapon we use to fight life’s battles.” I want to learn to do this. I want to become an expert on proved joy. Make-believe joy will not do. With the word of Margaret “The true power of joy supersedes a chirpy disposition, candy-coated emotion, or saccharine fantasy. It’s far more tangible than any magical notion of clicking your heels and discovering your bliss.” Only real, proved joy will do. That’s why I can’t wait to read this book.
Blessedly, the wait is over! Fight Back With Joy is finally here! Check it out yourself and join me next two Wednesdays as I blog on the first two chapters of the book.
Gracious God,
Thank you for giving us real joy in you.
Thank you for this brand-new book on proved joy.
Thank you for blessing Margaret during her battle with cancer.
Thank you for healing her and strengthening her.
Thank you for teaching us how to fight life’s battles with joy.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen
Q4U: How do you fight life’s battles? Are you a friend of real, proved joy?
Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live, work, play and fight with joy!
Image courtesy of Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.
9 thoughts on “Proved Joy”
yes!! JOY<3 it truly is a weapon in our faith<3 Joy in our disposition helps us to come against every wile, any situation we happen to find ourselves in…i've a teapot that states, "The Joy of the LORD is our Strength" Nehemiah 8:10, & i keep it on my kitchen table where i can see it to be reminded daily :))) He's given us Life Eternal & the Abundant Life in Him while still here, so nothing can defeat us! let's all be JOYing in the LORD<3 bless u, sis!
Amen, sis! 😀 Yes, let’s be JOYing in the Lord! Blessings galore to you, Crystal!
What a wonderful reminder. I love the idea of a tangible reminder in a place I can see it daily to continue to Fight Back With Joy.
and to think, i was going to get rid of the teapot which had been a gift, i had no place for it, so, decided to place it on my kitchen table…i see it as i come & go, a great visual reminder, there it will remain!
GOD’s rich blessings to u, Margaret~
Shalom Peace~wholeness, wellness, health & strength, we find it ALL in Jesus<3
sis in Christ, Crystal
I’ve heard this quite often that those that are battling cancer or any kind of disease and are facing death, it’s then they experience the most joy. Seems ironic doesn’t it? But what a good reminder that if they can find joy in the middle of one of the biggest battles of their lives, we should be able to in our day to day as well.
Nice to meet you! Hopping over from Jennifer’s link up 🙂
Thanks, Alecia, for stopping by and commenting. Yes, joy is not impossible. It’s available for all of us in Jesus. Be blessed, friend!
Indeed, Alecia.
Mari-Anna, thank you thank you thank you for posting this. Grateful and humbled. Can’t wait to hear what you think of Fight Back With Joy.
You’re so welcome, Margaret. Thank you for fighting and writing with joy! Blessings upon blessings to you & yours!