I don't know about you, but sometimes I let circumstances get the best of me and I just don't feel joy in any way. I know deep in my heart that my relationship with Jesus isn't about feelings, but facts. About unconditional love, about forgiveness and about acceptance into the family of Christ. But sometimes I just feel like everybody around me is more worthy of joy than me. Or that everybody else is on a 'joy ride' and my car has run out of gas in the middle of the road.
I know, I know. Romans 8:28 tells us that 'we know that all things work together for good to them that love GOD, to them that are called according to His purpose. It's just that lately I don't quite seem to have a purpose - or at least that is how I am feeling. And try as I might, I find it doubly hard to find joy in - - well - - anything.
BUT (and its a very big BUT), I know in my heart that being stalled on the joy-ride is a hard place to be. I have never been patient. Ever. I have always needed something to find purpose in.
So, right now, as my fingers strike each key, I choose to find joy in being able to communicate myself to you, - not as anything other than a child of God. Right now, I choose to find joy in knowing that no matter what the future holds for me, I will find joy in it if I choose to see God's plan, God's hand, God's path for my life. And while I might be stalled in the road, completely stalled on this path momentarily, I am going to choose to find the joy in it.
I read last evening something that resonated with me, deep down inside. Oswald Chambers wrote, "There is only one relationship that matters, and that is your personal relationship to a personal redeemer and Lord. Let everything else go, but maintain that at all costs, and God will fulfill His purpose through your life."
Today I choose to see where I am going, and not so much where I currently am stalling. I claim joy for this journey called life, a journey that has purpose and meaning not because of how I feel inside, or whose payroll I am on, but because of the promises of God!
I have decided that the more time I am spending meditating and studying God's Word, the less time I have to spend on self-centeredness. The more time I spend trying to serve others - even in small ways - the less time I have to worry about losing my joy. And that brings more joy than I deserve.
Have you ever felt less joyful than every one around you? What comfort did you find in your quiet time that was a help? What promises of God did you hold on to?
More joy for your journey,
Thanks for that! Sometimes I think I must be the only "ungrateful child of God" that I can live in the BEST country in the world, with a home, family, food, and many other blessings and still be "robbed of my Joy" because I decide to have a pity party when things don't go like a fairy tale. I don't know who fed us Americans the story that we are "entitled" to a life of luxury, but it is pretty clear in the Bible that NONE of God's people ever "had it easy" everyone of them had struggles and THAT is what made them stronger and better equipped to serve God. The best thing I have ever done to fix this frame of mind is get out of my own sorrows and into someone elses - find someone, anyone, who you can do something for. The more you do for others the less time you have to think of your self, and better still do it without them knowing who met their need. My warmest memory as a child was a year that our family "gave Christmas" to a family who was going to have no Christmas, we went to their car while they were at Christmas eve service and loaded it with gifts. I was in 4th grade and still remember one of the children who was in my class, telling about his wonderful Christmas, and just the joy I had inside knowing what a blessing we could be to them. There have been times in my adult life where we have been on the other side of that situation and I can tell you without a doubt it was much more of a blessing to give than receive!!! Go give em JOY!!!!
ReplyDeleteLove this Wendy! We would love to move away from the consumerism-type Christmas focus and invest in relationships. For us it has been a process. Thanks for sharing what that can look like.
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