Hello.
Tonight as I was spending some time in prayer it dawned on me how certain issues continue to arise in my conversation with God. I live a very blessed life and have so many things to be grateful for. However there always seems to be that one thing that no matter how hard or how long I ask God to take it away it still remains.

I have realized that sometimes that very thing is not placed there by the enemy but by God Himself. It seems that very thing is what causes me to humble myself daily and to pursue Him more. I know that God loves his children and I also know that being a good parent means sometimes allowing your children to go through things that can be tough. I am so concerned with
my own happiness and get frustrated when God allows something to remain in my life that conflicts with my being happy. Then it hits me that happiness is not one of the Fruits of the Spirit. He gives me love and joy and peace but happiness is different. I have an eternal joy in my life knowing Christ and knowing my eternal destiny. However, happiness can be fleeting and conditional relative to what I am going through at the time. I know God gave Job peace and patience and I believe a joy that truly surpassed ALL understanding but I would take a guess that he was probably not happy while enduring all that he did.

I am not trying to say we can’t be happy people, I am just learning to embrace even the difficult things in life knowing that my Father is in control and loves me so much more than I will ever know. So I turn to the love, joy, peace, and patience He gives.

-chris