Thanksgiving. [where does joy come from?]

"Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise;
give thanks to Him and praise His name.
For the Lord is good and His love endures forever;
His faithfulness continues through all generations." ~Psalm 100:4-5

Thanksgiving and praise.
That's how we're supposed to enter the presence of our Lord.

"You have made known to me the path of life;
You will fill me with joy in Your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand." Psalm 16:11

In His presence comes fullness of joy which gives us Life.

"...the joy of the Lord is your strength." ~Nehemiah 8:10b

But sometimes it doesn't seem that easy.
Life gets hard.
Sometimes our hearts are heavy.
Sometimes our hearts are broken for an injustice we recognize either against us or someone else.
Sometimes we get angry and frustrated about these terrible things that really should not continue.
Sometimes it's easier to list everything going wrong.
Sometimes it's easier to be mad.
Sometimes when all these emotions are building up, we just need to cry.
Sometimes sorrow is present and we can't deny it.
That's okay.

We must give that sorrow and pain to Jesus, laying it at His feet.

"Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning." ~Psalm 30:5 

"Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy." ~Psalm 126:5

This is a promise.
Joy is our reward.
Thanksgiving is our anthem.

We always will have a reason to sing.