My name is Eduardo Reyes, and I was born in El Paso, Texas, just across the border from Juarez, Mexico. My journey to where I am today is filled with moments that shaped me, but nothing brings me more joy than knowing how deeply God loves me.

What brings me joy? It’s more than just happiness. Joy is the constant knowledge that God is for me, that He loves and even likes me. It’s like David said: There’s nothing I can do about it. Knowing that no one can stand against me when God is on my side—that's joy. It’s steady, unshakable, unlike happiness which comes and goes. It’s like the difference between fleeting luck and enduring blessings. Joy is permanent.

I’m also grateful for the gifts God has given me—love, peace, freedom. These are blessings I didn’t always have, and the difference they make in my life is incredible. Before, I had moments of happiness, but joy? I didn’t truly understand it until I fully embraced my faith. It’s through God’s love that I discovered joy. Without Him, something was always missing.

My faith is the root of that joy. When I accepted Jesus, I didn’t immediately grasp the fullness of what it meant to be born again. I spent years living as two people—one version of me inside the church and another outside. That double life brought grief, but once I committed to being one person, to walking in the Spirit, I stopped faking it. That’s when joy flowed in. Walking in the Spirit gave me the strength to be authentic, no more pretending. I realized I am a child of God, saved by Jesus, and I don’t need to hide that.

One of my favorite Bible verses comes from Psalm 16:11 “In your presence there is fullness of joy.” There’s nothing like being in God's presence—it's where true joy lives. I used to pray over people with that verse, asking that they not just have joy, but experience the fullness of it. That’s the joy I live with.

Joy even carried me through hard times, like when one of my daughters struggled with depression. I didn’t lose my joy. Sure, I might have lost my happiness at times, but never joy. Deep down, I knew God had it under control—He loves me, loves my daughter, and He’s all-powerful. There was no need to worry.

When I talk to others about joy, I tell them to focus on gratitude. We’re already so blessed, beyond what we deserve. Instead of questioning why God blesses us, we should thank Him and do what we can for others. That’s how I encourage people to find joy—by being thankful for what they have and not getting caught up in things they can’t control.

For me, love is the most important virtue on this journey. God is love, and when we love others, everything else—joy, peace—follows. Partnering with the Holy Spirit means paying attention, listening, and obeying His guidance. Walking in the Spirit every day leads me to joy.

One day, in my office, I experienced the most powerful moment of joy. I had been struggling, living that double life and it affected my family. There was tension, depression, and pain. But I started reading the Bible, praying, and fasting, learning how to fight for my family. I knew the enemy had taken over my life, but God was teaching me how to reclaim it. I was in a battle, but God was training my hands for war.

After months of struggle, I came to Isaiah 54, where it says, “All your children shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your children.” At that moment, I knew I had won the fight. I started jumping up and down with joy because I knew my family’s peace would be restored. For months after that, I felt like I was walking on air.

That’s joy—steady, enduring, and rooted in God’s love.