“Oh Lord, the king rejoices in your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give! You have granted him the desire of his heart and have not withheld the request of his lips. Surely you have granted him eternal blessings and made him glad with the joy of your presence.”

Psalm 21:1-2, 6 NIV.

It’s easy to let the stress and pressures of this world wear you down. Worry can seem like mud sticking to your feet, tracking up your life and making a mess out of your joy.

Life is hard. Even when you’re a Christian. Especially when you’re a Christian.

You may be criticized or mocked for your faith in Jesus Christ. You may be called a “Jesus Freak” or “Bible Thumper.” Some may even avoid you, walking away as they roll their eyes or mumble something under their breath. They may even curse you, calling you intolerant of their lifestyles.

Pray for them. They don’t know what they’re missing.

Yes, of course, life is hard for everyone at times. But when you’re a Christian walking with God, you understand this world is temporary. You have the hope and promise of moving into your heavenly home one day.

You can also experience joy and excitement NOW. Not the kind of joy the world offers when all your bills are paid or you can afford the replacement part for the dryer. It’s not a fleeting joy like celebrating your graduation, only to find there are currently no jobs available in your field.

As a Christian, you get to have the joy of anticipation, of understanding there’s so much more going on behind the scenes than you can imagine.

Exciting, BIG things. Things beyond your wildest dreams that you couldn’t have designed no matter how hard you tried.

When you’re living your life with God, you can find out who you are and what your life is about.

Make no mistake – YOU ARE NOT A MISTAKE.

You can experience the thrill of those puzzle pieces of your life coming together. Dreams you’ve had since you were a child begin to make sense as you spot the finish line glistening on the horizon.

When you’re with God, you can see Him moving in your life. It’s not luck or a coincidence when blessings come. You know it’s Him – you recognize His fingerprints because you KNOW Him.

You may even get a glimpse of your part in the “big picture,” which can take your breath away while breathing new life into an old dream.

There will be times when your heart practically leaps from your chest as your heart’s desire prepares to take flight.

It will seem like you’ve been in a cage or on a leash, and all of a sudden, you’re set free to explore and live the tailor-made life, the full life God has always had in mind for you, His one-of-a-kind precious child.

It’s the exciting life you share with God.

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