My joy...stolen or just misplaced

Have you heard people say, "Someone stole my joy"? Do you ever feel as though it has happened to you?

A few evenings ago I had a fun chat with some ladies on Facebook. I really felt happy and joyful afterwards. A bit later I had a not so pleasant exchange with someone 'in real life'. Immediately I felt deflated and sad inside. Isn't it funny how our emotions can change on a dime? I started thinking about the phrase 'someone stole my joy'. Did this person with whom I had a disagreement actually 'steal' my joy?

I suppose I need to decide where exactly my joy comes from. Does it come from people in my life? If so, then it would make sense they could take it away. Does it come from the Lord? Well then how could it ever be stolen from me? How can any person take the blessings of the Lord away from me? I guess the answer is, they can't.

So if people can't take away my joy and the Lord didn't take away my joy, then where did it go? It must be me who set aside my joy. Sometimes though, the problem is I set it aside then I can't find it. It's as if I'm wandering around looking for my phone...now where did I put that? Has anyone seen it? I've misplaced my phone. Only it isn't something so unimportant as my phone, it's my joy.

Do you ever struggle with misplacing your joy? What helps you to find it again?

John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.