I have always kind of struggled with the concept of Joy. Like true Joy.
It wasn’t that I grew up in a dark and depressing environment where we never had fun. I had a pretty decent childhood I think. I had what I needed and that was enough.
I definitely have specific memories of joy like going to beach, on family trips, visiting Disney for the day, and hanging out with my step sisters in the summer… I have definitely experienced joy. But that’s all I thought joy was. Just another experience. Another emotion. It comes and goes in waves just like all the others.
James 1:2 says “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,whenever you face trials of many kinds..”
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Consider it joy…when you face trials..? (God is slowly re-teaching this concept to me…especially since I don’t think I ever really understood it in the first place0
God, How can we possibly have joy when life simply sucks?
Choose it.
Choose it? I can’t just choose my emotions…they just happen in reaction to life situations! You created me, you should know this is how people are
Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…You can do ALL things through Me, I will be your strength.
But how can I possibly do that…My emotions are everywhere, Jesus! How can I possibly control them?
Trust in me, don’t just depend on the things you know. I am the Beginning and the End. I created the Heavens and the Stars. I gave the world its Life and Light…you can do ALL things through Me…
I feel like these convos happen a lot between God and I…
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Remember the classic scene from the Matrix, when Morpheus offers Neo the red pill and the blue pill?
If he chose the blue pill, it would allow Neo to remain in the fabricated reality of the Matrix, therefore living the “ignorance of illusion” …or…
If he chose the red pill, Neo could escape the synthetic world that is the Matrix and live in the real world as it now is, though it may be harsher..it is REAL.
[SPOILER: He chose the red pill! or else that’d be the dumbest movie..ever.]
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I think everyday we have a choice like Neo.
We have the choice to just live in the day-to-day up and downs of our life and just try to enjoy the ride, OR we can take control and choose Joy and overcome no matter our circumstance.
As someone who has struggled with depression on and off in life, this was not an easy change. I had CONSTANTLY surrender my emotions and circumstances to the Lord. To this day, I need to. I need that joy that surpasses all understanding. I need that joy as a constant hope. I need joy. Just as I need God, so I must choose Him.
God is Joy, I choose Him, and I choose to have joy.
and He is SO worth it.
But there will also be bullets to dodge: anxiety, depression, negativity, anger, jealousy, (whatever it may be for you) and every once in a while you may get hit. But that doesn’t change the fact that you have an insurmountable amount of peace, joy and healing at your disposal. It takes time and self-discipline to change your mindset, but we have the God of the universe on our side sooo…Im not too worried 🙂
Luke 6;23 “Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven.”
John 15:11 “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.”
John 16:22 “So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy.”
John 16:24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, and your joy will be complete.”
