What Joy!

Psalm 98:1 Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.

Today my heart is rejoicing.  In the midst of the trial, I love when God is able to give us a glimpse of His glory, when He provides a moment of relief.  And I have new learning.  I was a person who would get very excited and giddy over the smallest of things.  In a way, I feel like those reactions were insulting to the glory God was inviting me to see.  I wasn't deep enough to get there.  Then in the midst of this difficult journey with Mom, I'd found it hard to get excited and giddy about anything.  I wanted to be happy about something, but there was the constant reminder of what is really going on.  Not that I was sad and miserable, but I seemed to be so much more subdued.  True that I needed some subduing, but it almost felt like I'd lost my excitement and happiness.  Today, God is showing me a more excellent way.  I am beginning to recognize that there is a major difference between joy and happiness.  Happiness is fleeting and is based on the moment.  Joy is deep.  It is not fleeting.  Joy is constant because it is of God, fruit of the Spirit.  Joy sees all things from the difficult to the wonderful and recognizes them as marvelous works of God.  I now see things with deep joy, not as moments to make me happy and excited.  Crazy enough, there is happiness that comes from joy in the Spirit, it just looks and feels very differently than it used to…and I like it.  I am truly singing the Lord a new song in my soul today, for He has grown me deeper in His joy.