Sometimes having joy is a choice.
Sometimes you’re hot. You’re tired. You’re sweaty. (Actually you’re always sweaty) You haven’t gotten good sleep in a week. You haven’t had good Jesus time in a week. You smell bad. Your feet hurt. And you are hungry.
Sometimes, you have to choose to smile. Sometimes, you have to choose to hold back your complaints.
Sometimes, you have to go the extra mile, even when you’re exhausted.
Sometimes, despite all the “bad” things, you have to choose to laugh at a joke a little kid told you. Or to high five someone.
Sometimes, you have to let kids chase you for 5 minutes, so they can tickle you.
And sometimes, you have the best day ever.
Sometimes, even though it wasn’t any easier, you get flower after flower from those kiddos. Sometimes, you laugh for hours with some little boys. Sometimes, you get to braid a mom’s hair, and talk to her about her family, and yours. Sometimes, you cheer up a crying little boy, and then his smile brightens your entire day. Sometimes, all the women at the Church, make you bracelets and keychains to thank you.
Sometimes, it feels like ministry is so hard that it isn’t worth it.
Sometimes, choosing joy is the last thing on earth you feel like doing.
But it’s worth it.
I chose joy today.
On a 10 hr ministry day.
When I haven’t slept well in a week.
Or had good Jesus time in 2 weeks.
My feet hurt.
I had a stomach ache.
I was hungry.
I smelled bad. And I am constantly sweaty.
But I chose to have joy today.
I didn’t want to, but God told me to.
I smiled at people and laughed at jokes, and braided hair, and danced. And before I knew it, I didn’t have to choose those things.
They came naturally.
And it was the most rewarding day I’ve had so far!
I love these people. And choosing to live in that love, and not in the gumpy-ness of my flesh, helped me to see how much I truly do love them.
And how much God loves them. He let me see little glimpses of his love for us today. Every Time, my heart would swell up. We are so precious in His sight. Nothing we do can change that.
I chose joy.
And it changed the way I think about everything. It reminded me that I need joy. That I can’t do anything on my own, but the joy of the Lord is my strength. And with him I can do anything.
I’m choosing joy from now on.
James 1:2-3
Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.
Nehemiah 8:10
Don’t be sad, or dejected, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
