Close

How to Know God

Do you ever wonder what Christians believe? Who Jesus is, what he did and why it matters? Get answers to these questions and more.

Spiritual Growth

Take the next step in your faith journey with resources on prayer, devotionals and other tools for personal and spiritual growth.

Life & Relationships

Explore resources to help you live out your life and relationships in a way that honors God.

Bible Studies

Find resources for personal or group Bible study.

Share the Gospel

Learn to develop your skills, desire and ability to join others on their spiritual journeys and take them closer to Jesus.

Help Others Grow

Help others in their faith journey through discipleship and mentoring.

Leadership Training

Develop your leadership skills and learn how to launch a ministry wherever you are.

Video

Browse videos designed to help you grow spiritually, share your faith, and lead others well.

Language Resources

View our top Cru resources in more than 20 languages.

Quizzes & Assessments

Have some fun taking various quizzes and assessments to learn about yourself and others.

Campus

Helping students know Jesus, grow in their faith and go to the world to tell others.

City

Reflecting Jesus together for the good of the city.

Inner City

Partnering with urban churches to meet physical and spiritual needs.

Athletes

Striving to see Christ-followers on every team, in every sport and in every nation.

Families

Equipping families with practical approaches to parenting and marriage.

High School

Reaching students and faculty in middle and high school.

Military

Bringing hope and resources to military families worldwide.

Locate Cru Near You

Explore Cru's global presence and discover how you can get involved in communities worldwide.

Events

Whether you're interested in conferences or local gatherings, there's an opportunity for you. Explore upcoming events and find your place to serve and grow.

Mission Trips

Explore domestic and global mission trips with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact. Opportunities for students, families, and professionals.

Internships

Explore Cru's internship opportunities—serve globally or locally, develop your skills, and make an eternal impact. Apply today!

Careers

Explore full- and part-time ministry careers with Cru—use your skills to impact eternity. Apply today!

Volunteer

Explore volunteer opportunities with Cru and use your skills to impact lives for eternity.

International

Explore global mission opportunities with Cru—serve, grow, and make an eternal impact.

What We Do

How we seek to journey together with everyone towards a relationship with Jesus.

Donor Relations

Answers to questions on donations, financial policies, Cru’s annual report and more.

Our Leadership

Learn about Cru's global leadership team.

Cru Partnerships

When the global church comes together then powerful things can happen.

Storylines

Showing God in action in and through His people.

Press

Access Cru's latest news releases, media contacts, and background information on our global ministries and leadership.

0

Have You Found a Greater Joy?

It’s so tempting to believe that abundant life can come from something other than the life God has ordained for us.

When we feel that we’ve lost it, we travel down dark paths looking for a joy that doesn’t exist there. We consider new locations, new relationships, new addictions, new purchases, new careers and new experiences as we hope for that elusive joy we seek but can never grasp.

Sometimes it’s easy to forget that happiness, while wonderful, is not sustainable. It’s fleeting and when we lose it there’s a temptation to fall apart, to blame God, to sink into despair.

When that temptation comes your way, remember Jesus offers greater joy than whatever it is you’re seeking satisfaction from. Consider Psalm 4 and how the writer proclaims in verses 6-7 (English Standard Version):

There are many who say, “Who will show us some good?

Lift up the light of your face upon us, O Lord!”

You have put more joy in my heart

than they have when their grain and wine abound.

We don’t need to chase things we imagine will bring life and happiness. We can rest in Jesus’ promise that He has come so “that [we] may have life and have it abundantly” (John 10:10, ESV).

Yet we compromise in countless areas, all because we want something that we truly believe will satisfy the longing of our hearts.

The truth? What we seek is found only in God.

God alone gives us the fulfillment of all our hopes and dreams and is the giver of the “shalom” peace our heart needs. Trust Him in this, the one “who richly provides us with everything to enjoy” (1 Timothy 6:17, ESV).

Trust in Jesus, who is so great, so amazing, so utterly fantastic that Peter left “everything” — everything! — to follow Him (Luke 5:11, ESV).

See also:
About the Author: Heather is a mother of two, a graduate of the University of Virginia and holds a doctorate in English literature from the University of Michigan. She and her husband, Ashley, serve as staff members with Cru. Heather is the author of “Seated with Christ: Living Freely in a Culture of Comparison” (Moody Publishers) and continues to write books on her favorite verses in Scripture. Her forthcoming book, “Chosen for Christ: Stepping Into the Life You've Been Missing,” is available fall 2018.Original article link: http://heatherholleman.com/2017/09/always-remember-greater-joy/

Since 1951, Cru has helped individuals who grapple with integrating faith into daily life by offering practical steps and community support. As a result, countless people in over 190 countries have been empowered to move from passive belief to active faith.