Joy that wells from within and blasts away darkness is one of the most precious gifts that our Creator God could bestow on His very own children. He is the Giver of good things. He gives life and makes us new. He gives blessing and lavishes love.

It comes in the form of enough food, enough money, and enough warmth.
It comes in the form of friends and of family; fellowship.
It comes in the form of waterfalls and creeks and tulips pushing through the barren earth.

He reminds us of Himself in all the good, normal things, for He is always making good out of ashes and barrenness.

That joy, though, also comes in the unexpected. It comes in surprise waves more often than we realize. Will you see it?

Today, it came in a pregnancy announcement from a dear friend. Whom I've prayed for for YEARS after losses. And, those prayers were seemingly answered last fall when a baby was needing to be adopted, and they got her right from the hospital. WHAT A JOY! What an answer! She is a beautiful gift. And then, today, she announces a surprise bit of JOY. She is carrying a son. The Lord pours out blessing! DOUBLE blessing in the span of only one year. Who is like our God?

And, today, I'm reminded in the gray of this spring day that there is joy. It's an overwhelming flood of God's blessing that pricks tears of gratefulness. It's everywhere we look. Nothing can stop it. We need only grasp it.