One day one of my children asked me what was the happiest day of my life. My answer was “today.”

I want to share with you something profound I learned that was a defining moment for me. The result of this lesson is that I am happy. Really happy. Actually I feel like the happiest person on earth. Yes adversity is there. Yes things happen to burden my heart, yes stress and pressure of life hits me as it does everyone, yes I hurt for those who hurt, Yes I grieve over the death of a loved one, but in addition to having the joy of the Lord I am HAPPY. I can’t even imagine anything that would cause me to increase the amount of happiness that I feel today. Everyday I just feel happy and excited to be alive. And it feels so good.

Don’t assume I am a sanguine person by nature. My personality is choleric-melancholy or D/C on the DISC. I have experienced depression and anxiety. I have experienced failure. My theological belief is that the joy of the Lord is our strength. I believe that there is joy in obedience to the Lord and His Word. Yet at one time in my life often felt zapped of happiness that I assumed was the result of my circumstances or people in my life.

Please don’t think I am minimizing the deep grief that some may feel over the pain that is real when life hits us hard. Divorce. Terminal Illness. Addictions. Mental Illness. Financial struggle. Death of a loved one. Rejection by people you love. I have experienced all of these in my life or within my extended family. What I want to share with you that I have learned is that joy is not the absence of pain, joy is the presence of God.

I view happiness as something different than joy. Happiness to me is an emotion that can come and go. Joy is an attitude deep within from Christ within us. It almost feels supernatural at times. Read Hebrews 12. Jesus endured the cross for the “joy that awaited Him.” vs. 3 “Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people…”

At one time my happiness level fluctuated based on emotions from life circumstances. People. Stress. Rejection. Anxiety. Physical health. etc. Often impacted by people in my life. Then something happened that changed my life forever. It was a defining moment and I have never been the same. I can’t say it any better than Pastor TD Jakes so I am sharing his words…

(From Pastor TD Jakes)

“There are people who can walk away from you. And hear me when I tell you this! When people can walk away from you: let them walk.

I don’t want you to try to talk another person into staying with you, loving you, calling you, caring about you, coming to see you, staying attached to you. I mean hang up the phone. When people can walk away from you let them walk. Your destiny is never tied to anybody that left.

The Bible said that, they came out from us that it might be made manifest that they were not for us. For had they been of us, no doubt they would have continued with us. [1 John 2:19]

People leave you because they are not joined to you. And if they are not joined to you, you can’t make them stay.

Let them go.

And it doesn’t mean that they are a bad person it just means that their part in the story is over. And you’ve got to know when people’s part in your story is over so that you don’t keep trying to raise the dead.

You’ve got to know when it’s dead.

You’ve got to know when it’s over. Let me tell you something. I’ve got the gift of good-bye. It’s the tenth spiritual gift, I believe in good-bye. It’s not that I’m hateful, it’s that I’m faithful, and I know whatever God means for me to have He’ll give it to me. And if it takes too much sweat I don’t need it. Stop begging people to stay.

Let them go!!

If you are holding on to something that doesn’t belong to you and was never intended for your life, then you need to . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to past hurts and pains . . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If someone can’t treat you right, love you back, and see your worth . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If someone has angered you . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to some thoughts of evil and revenge . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you are involved in a wrong relationship or addiction . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you are holding on to a job that no longer meets your needs or talents . . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you have a bad attitude . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep judging others to make yourself feel better . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you’re stuck in the past and God is trying to take you to a new level in Him . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you are struggling with the healing of a broken relationship . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you keep trying to help someone who won’t even try to help themselves . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If you’re feeling depressed and stressed . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

If there is a particular situation that you are so used to handling yourself and God is saying “take your hands off of it,” then you need to . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

Let the past be the past Forget the former things. GOD is doing a new thing for 2014!!!

LET IT GO!!!

Get Right or Get Left. think about it, and then . . . . . . . .

LET IT GO!!!

“The Battle is the Lord’s!”