I think one of the hardest things to do in life is to live with joy in the midst of trials and challenges.

It's so easy to let life dictate to us our emotions and state of being.

But in God, there's a joy available to us right where we are, no matter how good or bad

this situation may be.

Today, we're going to make space together to simply open our hearts and minds to receive

the joy of the Father.

I hope and pray that you find real, life-changing joy in God's presence today.

Welcome to the first of team podcast. The scripture for today comes from Psalm 126, 5 through 6, which reads,

Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy.

He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing,

shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

The joy of the Lord available to us and the Holy Spirit transcends all circumstances,

relationships, and possessions. It's an internal joy fed to our hearts by the wellspring of joy the Father has toward us. God longs to make us a people marked by his joy. He longs to

fill us with the knowledge of how thrilled he is to be our Father. He longs to make us a joyful

people in every circumstance and season. First Peter 1. 6 through 9 says, in this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary,

you've been grieved by various trials,

so that the tested genuineness of your faith,

more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire,

may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

Though you have not seen Him, you love Him, that you do not now see Him, you believe in Him,

and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

We can have joy in the midst of trial and tribulation because we have a genuine faith that this life is not all there is.

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