God of all JOY

~ Dee

“Dear Deandra E. Hurst, based on a recent review of your account, SYNCHRONY BANK has lowered your credit line.”

The So What took place. August mortgage was not paid until mid-September and ripple effects are being felt even now.

I went to the mail box earlier and found a letter from this bank advising that they have decided to lower my limit because of “DELINQUENT OR DEROGATORY REAL ESTATE SECURED LOAN.”

Wow!

I was late for one payment on my home and this drastically dropped my credit score and my line of credit.

The hit hurt! Big time!

I felt a form of betrayal. After being with this company for close to 15 years, one missed payment on my home (another company altogether) has caused them to have a different view of me, and my credit worthiness.

Whew! So what did occur…

As the reality of what occurred sank in, a wave of differing emotions flooded in.

How is it possible for a company to reject a member after just one indiscretion? Do companies like these sit around and wait for their patrons to fail to pull the plug? Do companies know what loyalty to customers is like? How about friends? Do friends sit around waiting for a reason to bail? Do friends wait around for just that one indiscretion to say “I’m out!” Are all the good deeds immediately forgotten and erased when there is a mis-step? Am the only one who experiences these kinds of “rejections?”

The Lord began pouring His love into my heart as the reality of what was taking place sunk in. When I get to moments of despair or deep discouragement, the Lord always leads me to this song by William Murphy, “I will rejoice.”

I. Will. Rejoice.

It seems ironic that when I should be sitting in sorrow Holy Spirit says, “Rejoice.” When life hits hard, He says “Be joyful, be glad.” Yah’s medicinal antidotes are definitely not ones that would be prescribed in your regular pharmacy. They are not “usual” remedies a friend would even give in handling life’s issues, but here He says “Rejoice Deandra!”

I located the song and as I closed my eyes and began repeating the words I realized that rejoicing in the midst of a life changing event is a choice.

An intentional decision.

By choosing to rejoice in the midst of this setback, I tell my soul to be encouraged and to hope in God. I tell my emotions that this too will past, and this is not the end. I tell my mind that it doesn’t matter what I see, I’m not walking by sight, but by faith knowing that all things will work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Rejoicing in the Lord shifts our heart’s posture. Rejoicing in the Lord forces us to keep our mind focused on who God is and what He’s doing in our lives. Rejoicing in the Lord opens our hearts to receive His joy, His unspeakable joy that supersedes any grief, rejections and disappointments that we may and certainly will experience.

His joy is our strength.

“And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Until next time remember, His Promises are our Guarantee…🙌🏽

113 thoughts on “God of all JOY”

  1. Deandra, I’ve been there! My wife and I banked with a company that was all about family. They claimed every client was family. We fell on hard times and no help from them but threats that if we continued over drafting, they’d remove us from their business. Is that what family does??

    God told me one time He would supply all my needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Because of my faithfulness at the time of looking out for other’s needs. He looks out for His own.

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  2. Amen! Praying for you sister! The banks are crooked and they are just waiting to take our assets. They don’t care about us. A few weeks ago I wrote a post about the truth regarding the Federal Reserve and the unfair weights and measures they use against us. It’s not right and I pray the Lord brings justice and healing! God bless!

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  3. An excellent post, Deandra.
    God asks us to rejoice, even in the midst of trials.
    I agree with you, financial institutions can be unsympathetic to the every day life events of their patrons.
    God never lets us down🤗.

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    1. That’s an excellent reminder, dear Sally, of what our Father expects…especially when the financial institutions show their unsympathetic nature. We also get to see in these times that our Daddy, is filled with compassion and sympathy ❤️

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  5. Good choice Deandra. Mankind and their systems are broken sticks. God is gently weaning off of trusting in them. I won’t go into how God weaned us off of these systems but I will say it is absolutely essential in the days ahead to have NO trust in the help of man. That is a very dangerous trap. In this season intentional faith and deliberate praise is what you need. Keep choosing to trust your Beloved Deandra. I know it doesn’t look good on the surface but God is granting you a tremendous honor. You are beloved of the King and have not escaped the attention of the enemy. Hang in there. Jesus has you. Allow this faith training lesson run its course and remember He will not give you more than you can handle. But He will stretch you in this so you can handle more.

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    1. Homer and Wanda, words fail me as I read your encouragement to me. Thank you both for continuing to model a life of faith and proof that in our Father, satisfaction can be had along with His joy, His peace, His victory, His love…His overcoming power. Some trust in chariots, some trust in horses, we will CHOOSE to trust in the name of our Lord 🙌🏽

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    2. Excellent assessment Homer….” God is gently weaning off of trusting in them.” Abba has a better plan than man’s for sure!! Have Your way in ALL of our lives Lord!!

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  6. I also just read your 9/18 post. I am so glad to hear God came through with your mortgage payment + some!! Thank you Lord for answered prayers. ❤ Sorry for the fall out, though. Isn't it wonderful God doesn't operate like the world? We would be in such a mess.

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  7. Thanks much my dear sister for sharing. Am happy that the Lord spoke to your heart so you in turn could use it as a measure of encouragement to me.

    Sometimes as a result of heavy and burdensome trials, a feeling of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair may set in upon us as believers. It has been an emotional week for me. I lost a cousin on Wednesday and a neighbour Friday morning.

    Those who are our friends cannot always understand, though they want to; they cannot always help us, though they try desperately to do so, but we can hope in God and cast our burdens on him. He knows what we have need of even before we ask. The Psalm you mentioned is the very same one I pulled strength from earlier today and still trusting God for strength to get by. Let us keep praying one for another and be mindful that the Lord is faithful.

    Blessings to you always

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    1. Oh my dear Fay, I’m so sorry that you are faced with such grief, especially in such a short amount of time. My heart goes out to you, my prayers have been lifted and continue to be lifted on your behalf. May the Father of ALL joy fill your heart with encouragement, strength and grace for the journey ahead. May He make His face shine upon you as He fills you with His Shalom. I’m so happy we can find comfort in His Words, so thankful we are not women who are without hope, without a Father who truly cares. Truly, in Him we find complete satisfaction. My love to you always ❤️

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  8. The joy of the Lord is our strength! Man may fail us, but God’s Word never fails. The world’s love is conditional. They love us as long as we are doing everything that keeps them happy. Keep trusting in God, and walking by faith little sister. He will supply your needs. ❤️

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    1. The joy of our Lord is our strength! I could say that over and over and over again. Whew!!
      Thank you big sister for reminding me that His love is unconditional and His joy, is our strength, our song, our reason for living, our source of survival. His love helps us to face all our challenges and obstacles, His love helps us to ride out our storms. Thank You Lord for Your love ❤️🙌🏽

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  9. Walk in Abba’s Strength Woman of God! This light affliction, which is ONLY for a moment, just made you a candidate and a recipient for the manifestation of Romans 8:28, progressing onward to a manifestation of Ephesians 3:20….

    “For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, 18 while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal…2 Corinthians 4:17-18

    “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose…Romans 8:28

    “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…Ephesians 3:20

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    1. Ah Nana, what is there to say to a woman who has seen many days of needing a heart posture shifting…you know well. Continue to be resolute in your faith, to be resilient in your walk, great is your reward in heaven. I love you ❤️

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  11. I’ve been here. I’m there now.

    Rejoicing in the midst of setbacks helps us to mature in our faith. James 1:2-4 has helped me to explore how God can help us change our outlook on a season of setbacks.

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    1. Kim, you are an anointed woman of God! Let me repeat, you are an anointed woman of God. Filled with strength, power and fire!!!

      I love that passage from James by the way, it is so wonderful to be reminded today to “count it all joy!”

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              1. It says I have to have a premium account to call wordpress. Thanks anyway though! I’ll keep trying to rectify the issue. Thanks for the follow. I pray that you are blessed and ministered to as you read my blog posts.

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                2. So…thinking, when I click on your name, it pulls up “fearandovercome.com” but the link you said has the “fearandovercome.wordpress.com”. Is there any way to update this site in your settings profile so that when I click on your name, it automatically takes me to the correct page?

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                    1. -Sign into WordPress from your internet browser
                      -Go to profile
                      – Go to account settings
                      -Under web address, put the link you sent me – the one including “Wordpress”
                      – Hit save account settings

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                    4. I just did it. I didn’t have the whole web address, I left out wordpress.com. Hopefully, it works now. I’m still learning the technical stuff I wouldn’t have thought to check that, God bless your ministry!

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    1. Ah Lily, it’s not easy to rejoice but in Him, all things are possible, even in the midst of setbacks and disappointments. Continue my dear sister to be resolute in your convictions. Never allow the enemy to sway you with circumstances. Greater is He than it in you, Lily, than He that is in the world. ❤️💕

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  13. Dear Dee, thankyou for sharing this. It is such a comfort to your soul to know that when you were feeling down and discouraged the Lord ministered to that cry. And you did not hold on to that discouraged feeling but let the Lord fill it with Himself and flood out those feelings when you praised Him and Rejoiced in Him. A reminder that our praise of Him is not dependent on our circumstances but that He still sits on the throne even when things are not so great.
    What an irony- be a good customer to the bank and with one bump they tell you you are not good enough.
    But God is the opposite, a life full of indiscretions and He still says come to me, you are loved and worthy to die for.

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    1. Hallelujah! Manu, you are preaching girl! I feel your heart posture in this post. I hear you not only declaring to me what is what, but speaking life to your situations. I hear you saying to yourself, “Manu, hope in God!”
      Thank you for continuing to walk alongside me sister friend, we will truly meet one of these days to sit and break “both” kinds of breads. My love to you always.

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  14. This really touched my heart Dee! God always knows where we are at, because He’s right there beside us. As long as everything goes in their favor, these businesses, treat their customers like gold, but let a few late payments hit and see where their interests lie. They are looking out for #1. It’s sad but true! That was the hardest control that I had to surrender to God—our finances! It was hard! My dad taught me to pay everything before the due date, and I was doing a great job. And then boom, the bottom fell out of our world! It was a very tough “faith walk!” But this too passed. None of us know what tomorrow will bring, but we know who holds it in the palm of His hand! 🙏🏼

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    1. Oh Renee…This is certainly a season where God is teaching me about surrendering His finances. I almost said “my” finances but then Holy Spirit reminded me that I’m simply a steward of what He’s entrusting me with. I own nothing! Not even the life I’m living. As I think back to this lesson of the institutions, I realize that I had some hope in them to both navigate and meander through the challenges but thanks be to God, in His omniscience He chose to continue breaking and refining me and using these tests to say “No, Deandra, only trust in Me.”

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      1. It is a tough season, but you are going to come out strong! That’s what say, it’s all His! He owns the cattle on the hills girl, and this is nothing for Him to take care of!🙌🏼 That trusting thing is hard for any one of us!🙈

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    1. Hi big brother, I’m so thankful I have you in my corner persistently praying. What a joy to have family that weep when you weep and rejoice when you rejoice. What an even greater joy to have comfort that our Father gives 🤗❤️🤗

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  16. When I read your post, I thought about the Psalms. Sometimes David was angry, discouraged, or felt betrayed when he started the Psalm. Then He reminded himself of who God is and ended the Psalm with praise, just like you did. ❤️

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    1. Oh Ms. Deb, your comment has been resonating with me all night. The Pastor spoke today about “Lamenting” and how David did a lot of those, I guess this was the case…praise God He is big enough to handle all our issues, concerns, frustrations and everything in between.

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  17. D, there’s nothing I’ll say to you that you don’t already know. So keep it up, sis. 🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗🤗 12 hugs as prayers lifted up on your behalf 😘

    And as for the systems of the world, aren’t they just like their father, the devil 🙄

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  18. His joy truly is our strength! Dee, I remember being introduced to Nehemiah early in my walk. Like so many, this verse resonated, and gave great hope. I too am thankful that we are not tied to this world’s systems as confirmation of who we are, most importantly, Whose we are. Thank you for sharing your heart so transparently. ♥♥

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  19. Great post, Deandra! I understand the missed payment issue. Our visa provider did a similar thing when we missed a payment. They suddenly raised our interest rate. My hubby phoned and had a chat with them. When he said that we would pay it off with our credit line and get rid of their visa they quickly decided that since it was our first offense they’d lower our interest rate. Yeah, it’s not nice when a company (or a friend) punishes you for one offense. Jesus even says to forgive seventy times seven times. Man a certain friendship issues has been plaguing me lately, and the devil has caused so much confusion, but I think it’s sorted. God is good to answer when we ask for help. It’s good to be weak. We don’t always appreciate being weak, but being dependant on God is the best place to be. Great post and reminder! ❤

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    1. Welcome back dear friend!

      Ah Tina, it certainly is no fun being in this spot or similar ones at all. I’m glad you were able to sort through the confusion, the devil has a knack to create tailspins in our lives but that God He brings order to us, whew! I don’t readily accept that I’m weak and frail in any way but the Lord has a way of helping me to embrace that when I’m weak, He becomes my strength.

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  20. Oh Deandra, God of ALLLLLL JOYYYYY IS Your/MY/OUR STRENGTH!! What a lovely writing!! His timing is perfect Daughter of YahWeh!!
    And the icing on the cake is that YahWeh keeps your business and does not put it on blast for the whole world to make judgments on you.. The God of second and third and fourth and … chances.. He will never tell the devil to come after you to destroy you, He May left allow the devil to attack you so the devils ego could get a good whipping!!
    #myprovider
    #feelingsafeinHisarms
    #myconfidante
    #ontimeALLthetime

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    1. My beloved, that He is to us and then more! I’m grateful with you that He doesn’t ever put our business on blast, whew! What an absolute relief to be able to be able to truly trust Him not just with the good but also with the bad and the very ugly too 🙌🏽🙌🏽

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  21. Wow. Human being and their ways. It took me a while of getting to sink into me “Mercy, don’t expect too much from humans” to get me less and away from the usual disappointed mode.

    But then, it’s a blessing that we have God in it all – Unfailing and indeed “I am that I am” – A being of utmost integrity!.

    Be encouraged sis. He always shows up when we trust Him and His ways. ❤

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  22. Hey girl…you sure did present a ‘transparent’ issue in your life. But all is not lost nor hopeless. Don’t forget you can always write the company/bank and present your case. Introduce them to your blog post and tell them just how many ‘followers’ you have and they were all ticked off by the way the bank treated you. Let the bank know you expect to receive an apology and to be reinstated back to your highest credit score. Send your letter ‘certified, return receipt requested’. I bet you will get a response from them. And when that happens, write another blog stating the conclusion of the matter.

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      1. All I can say is follow your heart…but sometimes we over work the Holy Spirit. I doubt if any bank employee would even hear or heed His voice. But its your decision and I’m with you on that.

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  23. Great faith-building post, Deandra. It is truly miraculous the joy we can retain joy when we’re going through difficult times. There will be no grace given us from this world’s institutions, as you’ve discovered God bless you, my friend. Praying for you.

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    1. Thank you for the prayers, Bill. I appreciate them.
      Isn’t indeed a miracle being able to not just receive joy, but also have it retained during times of difficulties…bless the Lord always. My face has erupted in a smile knowing that as we go through our challenges, we both are still able to have His joy 🙌🏽

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    1. Amen! Thank you beloved Nancy! I’m looking forward to seeing how the Lord fights this battle for me, and for all who are struggling in this regard (and in other realms). It’s such a needed posture for us as believers, to stand still and see His Salvation 🙌🏽

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  27. I am so behind reading everyone’s posts sis. I am sorry I am just reading this. I rejoice that your mortgage was met! Answered prayer for real 😇

    Companies only care about the stock holders not their customer when it comes down to it.

    It is a shame this has happened, BUT God WILL take care of things.

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    1. Oh no worries Stu, I’m feeling like I have to be playing catch up…ugh!

      Yes, thankful that the Lord showed up, albeit in my head, it was late, but He knew just when to come through and with extra too…

      As for the companies, may the Lord have mercy on them for real 😅😂

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      1. I’m trying to catch up. I spent most of my night last night chatting with Steve catching up on his. His were hilarious talking about adventures with his dad! Laughing so hard I was crying 😂😂😂

        I understand the lateness in our minds but God is always on time. We just do not see everything at first glance. He was preparing the extra provisions for you 😊

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  31. Deandra, the world is a sad place to live in. It is filled with callous buisness corporations that only love your money, not you. They are friends and family to your money, not you the person. Thus, with one tiny indescretion called lack of money, they will kick you on the street without a second glance. But, God! I am so happy that you find your “But, God!” in this circumstances. I am so glad that God will never leave you nor forsake you. I am so happy that the just will live by faith in the power of God and not in the might or strength of those callous money hungry banks and corporations. I am also currently facing these same situations with them so I know fully well what you are going through. I have a house in Jamaica and every month they send me a letter to to say that they are putting the house up for auction because I am always late with payments. But, God!

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    1. Oh dear…this is definitely a But God for real sis! Only He is able to help us meander through this power hungry callous corporations. I’m truly grateful that He is not like this at all. The Lord our God is tender, patient and merciful with us. He forgives us of our sins and casts them into the sea of forgetfulness. Hallelujah! 🙌🏽

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  32. This is such a testimony of faith in God’s plan. He truly watches over us. That doesn’t mean bad things will never happen, but that all things will work together for our good in the bigger picture. Thank you for sharing. God bless! ❤️

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