Who Stole My Joy?: The Pursuit of Hope and Healing in a Broken World

By Linda Kreh

Who Stole My Joy was written for everyone who finds themselves struggling to stay afloat in this chaotic, uncertain, and broken world. The motivation and inspiration for this book came during my work as a counselor. It occured to me that many people just want to be happy. However, “happy” lasts only for a moment. “Joy” lies within the heart at a much deeper level. The pursuit of hope and healing begins and ends with Jesus. He is the One who will walk with us on the path that leads to joy.

• Language: English
• Publisher: WestBow Press
• Release date: Apr 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664230408

Linda Kreh

Linda Kreh is a recently retired licensed professional counselor living in New Jersey. She received her Master’s Degree from Liberty University. Prior to counseling she taught second grade for 25 years. She has taught Sunday School and has led Bible studies and small groups for teens and adults at Sicklerville United Methodist Church.

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Copyright © 2021 Linda Kreh.

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ISBN: 978-1-6642-3039-2 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3041-5 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-6642-3040-8 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2021906974

WestBow Press rev. date: 4/22/2021

To all who are hurting

and looking for hope.

and

To all who have climbed the mountain and are now in the

valley encouraging others.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Something’s Missing

2, How Did I Get Here?

3. Living in the Past

4. Wanting a New Direction

5. Never Alone

6. A Work in Progress

7. One Step at a Time

8. Challenges, Roadblocks, and Obstacles

9. What Really Matters

10. Walk On!

11. Everlasting Joy and a Peace that Endures

12. Pass It On

A Note from the Author

Notes

Playlist

Acknowledgments

I want to, first and foremost, thank my dear friend, Kelly Piatek, for her diligence in editing this book. Kelly, I appreciate the sacrifice of your time and expertise, especially when it comes to antecedents, dangling participles and punctuation! You wielded your mighty red pen and provided corrections, suggestions and revisions, along with many words of encouragement. Can’t thank you enough! Couldn’t have done it without you!

Thank you to Danielle and Melissa who are always ready, willing, and able to help Aunt Linda whenever she encounters technical or logistical difficulties. Love you both!

I want to thank my Mom for all of her encouragement and for the many hours she spent doing the final read through.

Introduction

As I begin to write this introduction, there seems to be chaos at every turn. Hatred, violence, and political discord dominate the headlines.

For some of us, just watching the news and witnessing the daily decline of our society is more than enough to create a sense of uncertainty and fear. The eroding of Christian beliefs and the deterioration of family values are quite concerning. Let’s face it, we live in a broken world.

Being a child of God does not make us exempt or immune to pain and suffering. Throughout the course of my years as a professional counselor I have seen so many precious people who were overwhelmed with LIFE. Some were living with immeasurable internal turmoil caused by someone from their past. Some were barely keeping their head above water because of circumstances beyond their control. And others, who thought that they didn’t have anyone to turn to, had reached out for other sources of comfort. The pain and suffering that our brothers and sisters experience can be unbearable.

Have you been wounded? Is life weighing you down? Are you overwhelmed, underwhelmed, or just going through the motions? This book was written with those who are struggling in mind. My hope is that this book will help you start your journey, give you hope, and lead you down the path to healing.

I have included two song titles at the end of each chapter and you will find an extensive playlist in the back of the book. Christian music has come a long way. It can be inspiring and uplifting. Sometimes the songs can make you want to dance, and other times the lyrics echo just how you are feeling at that time. Christian music ministers to me on a daily basis, and I want to give you the same opportunity to experience these incredible songs and allow them to speak to your heart.

Everyone has a unique preference when it comes to music. I encourage you to create your own playlist that will be uplifting and tailored to your own style.

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One

SOMETHING’S MISSING

Though I have fallen, I will rise. Though I sit in the darkness, the Lord will be my light.

Micah 7:8

One early morning in June as I continued to toss and turn from a sleepless night, I decided I would get up before sunrise and take my daily two-mile walk. After all, I certainly wasn’t getting any sleep, and we had been experiencing a heatwave so it would be much cooler at 5:00am.

Those who know me well would attest to the fact that I am NOT an early riser. But I laced up my sneakers and set out into the dark.

As I walked, I was greeted by the sound of birds singing and chirping in trees and on rooftops. It seemed that they were playfully enjoying the wee hours of the morning before the rest of the world would soon wake up.

A few blocks down the road, I noticed a specific bird perched atop someone’s chimney. This bird was not chirping as were the other birds. It was not welcoming this new day with song. It was just groaning.

Then I thought, Such is life. There are so many people around us who are not singing. So many people, for one reason or another, who will not expectantly welcome this new day; there is no joy.

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

The Declaration of Independence, written in 1776, states that we all have certain God-given rights. Among these rights are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. I would surely agree with our founding fathers but, even as we are all given these unalienable rights, there seem to be many people who do not experience these rights for one reason or another. The pursuit of happiness is not even on their radar. Their pain is real, it is constant, and it stops them right in their tracks, unable to move forward.

We live in a broken world filled with discontent, division, finger pointing, hatred, and materialism. In general, we have become a very self-absorbed society, focused more on, what’s in it for us rather than what we can do for others. We are quick to deflect blame and criticism, and rarely do we accept full responsibility for our actions.

Please do not misunderstand. I am not preaching doom and gloom. There are some very kind and thoughtful people in this world who gladly give of themselves to help others. What I am mostly referring to is the downward trend of our current society.

So, what is the secret of success? What is the secret to happiness? And, why is everything such a secret? The media and advertising companies would have us believe that more is better. They tell us that we deserve to have the best of everything. I would contend that in most cases more will never be enough.

What is it that we truly hunger for? Can we satisfy our hunger with the things on store shelves or the bright and shiny things in showrooms? These things will only make us happy for a brief moment. The happiness they bring will surely be short-lived.

When I work with children and adolescents, I often do an exercise of granting them three wishes. The answers that they come up with give me insight into what is really important to them and help me get to know them better. I make sure to tell them that the wishes do not have to be limited to something that he/she might find in a store.

If I asked you to write down three wishes, what would they be? Would your list include material things? Necessary things? Would you use a wish to help someone else?

I suppose what I am