Deeper joy

I used to drive my college roommate crazy by hopping out of bed each morning and quoting, "This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." He would moan from the top bunk, probably trying to think of how he could get even.

It's hard to be joyful when things aren't going well. But I have found that joy isn't about outward circumstances. It isn't happiness as we usually define it. Joy is something deep within, a fruit of the Spirit, that stays even when things get tough.

Somebody has said, "Joy is a choice." I hope I can keep on learning that lesson.