“sometimes joy sweeps me off my feet, but more often it courts me and asks for a decision.”
(i am writing this blog very quickly, but in hopes you fully understand my grasp on joy. )
“joy is a choice.”
these quotes come from a book i am reading regarding joy and finding it’s magnitude in all things and circumstances in life (He Has Made Me Glad). for a while, i thought i was doing something wrong. being constantly joyful was such a battle for me. i realized quickly things do bother me while aiming for that consistent smile. i was given this book just before this month of ministy began and it couldn’t have come at a better time. the author is explaining how some people can be joyful in all things no matter what but for him, it is a decision. just like me.
i began thinking of myself and who i was before this trip and who i am now. at home, of course i got frustated with things and people at times but was able to shrug it off in a swift and painless manner. but here, i have such a difficult time with community. so many people, so many opinions, and so many personalities announcing their prescence at any event. i just want stillness and solitude at times. i enjoy my alone time. my time to just be. but given the circumstances, that just doesn’t happn often. i began to think what my daily routine was at home. on any given day of nothing to do, what would i choose to do. most days i enjoy at some point playing with my dog, riding the four-wheeler, swimming or fishing, hanging out with only the people i choose to, and a quick work out. here little to none of these things are possible each day. my dog is not here and rarely are we some place with animals to play with. there aren’t four-wheelers to ride on my own wherever i want to go. swimming sometimes but not fishing (although i did catch a fish in turkey after borrowing a pole for a few minutes from a few guys off the water). working out, usually you can everyday but choosing your company for the moment, kiss that right good-bye. some days all i want is to hang out with one specific person and no one else and when i don’t get my way, i get moody. why? not sure, but that’s what i’m learning.
i’m learning how to find joy in everything. everything. learning what it truly means to appreciate life and all it has to offer me. if i’m moody or frustrated with a situation, i lose. the enemy has taken that joy, thast life, and that moment from me and i can never get it back. why do we want the enemy to take anything from us? joy for me is an everyday, every moment choice. so far while reading this book and worshiping God in all things, life has been better. i’m living for the moment and giving all thanks to Him. but also not just focusing on a single moment in time but my whole life. the book also says, “joy is about our whole life. salvation involves our past, present and future- our entire life, not just a part…only God contains all mometns, for He is the God who “was, and is, and is to come.”” so with this, i’ve learned to give thanks and be joyful for not just my present but also my past and future. my past has gotten me here now and my future is going to be so much better than anything i could ever plan myself. God has my life so well drawn out and is siting on the edge of His seat waiting for me to unveil it all. i’m so, so excited for my future and what it holds.
joy is sometimes not easy. but if we fix our eyes on the Lord, anything will look and be magnificent.
joy starts internally.
find joy in the small things, big things, the hard things, the troubling things, the times you just can’t understand, the times you feel like everyone is against you, the best day of your life, the worst day of your life. and remember, well said by the author, “To meditate on the God of the Bible is to kindle joy.” when it gets hard, turn everything to Him.
