I love joy. So anytime someone is writing a book on joy I am most likely to check it out. But when I heard Margaret Feinberg was writing a book on joy after battling cancer during the last year and half, I could hardly wait to get my hands on the book. Because this book was going to be war-tested and genuine book on real joy.

Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. (1 Peter 1:7, MSG) And real joy put in the fire comes out of it proved joy.

Proved joy is real joy. It’s not just happiness. It’s not wish-washy. It’s not circumstantial. It’s God-ordained, God-inspired and God-breathed. It’s real even during the hardest battles of our lives.

Margaret writes in her brand-new book Fight Back With Joy: Celebrate More. Regret Less. Stare Down Your Greatest Fears “During the last year and a half, I felt my way through the darkness of despair and stared death in the face. Somewhere along the way God unveiled a spectrum of joy I had never experienced—from the joy expressed as lighthearted laughter in an impossible situation to the joy gained from hearing the deep voice of God during times of great pain.”

Margaret continues “Through it all, I learned something startling: More than whimsy, joy is a weapon we use to fight life’s battles.” I want to learn to do this. I want to become an expert on proved joy. Make-believe joy will not do. With the word of Margaret “The true power of joy supersedes a chirpy disposition, candy-coated emotion, or saccharine fantasy. It’s far more tangible than any magical notion of clicking your heels and discovering your bliss.” Only real, proved joy will do. That’s why I can’t wait to read this book.

Blessedly, the wait is over! Fight Back With Joy is finally here! Check it out yourself and join me next two Wednesdays as I blog on the first two chapters of the book.

Gracious God,
Thank you for giving us real joy in you.
Thank you for this brand-new book on proved joy.
Thank you for blessing Margaret during her battle with cancer.
Thank you for healing her and strengthening her.
Thank you for teaching us how to fight life’s battles with joy.
In Jesus’ name,
Amen

Q4U: How do you fight life’s battles? Are you a friend of real, proved joy?

Be blessed, my fellow pilgrim, as you live, work, play and fight with joy!

Image courtesy of Mari-Anna Stålnacke. Linking up today with Unite the Bloggersphere and #tellhisstory.