Some days “choosing joy” is just easier than others. Don’t you love those “easy” days where you wake up smiling, ready to face the day, cheerfully going about your tasks and maintaining a calm demeanor in the midst of the many curve balls of the day? Me too! However, if your world is anything like mine, those days are not always the norm. Some days I don’t even want to look at the “Choose Joy” bracelet on my wrist. Wouldn’t it be easier to just grumble and complain? Mondays happen. Daylight Savings Time happens…and choosing joy becomes a bit more of a struggle.
“Joy” is a word I’ve been captivated by over the years. I even chose “joy” as my focus word for two years recently, but I will be the first to admit that I am no “joy expert.” As much as I believe God has called us to live a joyful life, His word instructs us, His Spirit empowers us… I still fall short. I still have days where I find myself grumbling, feeling snippy with co-workers, and anything but joyful or cheerful. So, what do we do on days like this?
(Just to be clear, this is not a hypothetical dilemma…this was my Monday!)
Now, I don’t always think of Scripture first (tho that would be an EXCELLENT plan!), but when I do, I think of one of the following verses:
“Be joyful always.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
“This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it!” (Psalm 118:24)
“The fruit of the Spirit is…joy.” (Galatians 5:22)
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10)
I have often wondered why we are instructed to be joyful always. Isn’t that a bit unrealistic in a world filled with tragedies, sickness, pain, and heartache? Why would God ask something of us if it wasn’t possible? With the Holy Spirit in us, I’ve always understood these Scriptures to be possible if we are surrendered to God, allowing His Spirit to flow through us. But this doesn’t simply “happen to us,” as Henri Nouwen states. “We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day.” This makes me think of the biblical word “abiding.” We have to keep abiding, keep staying connected to God through prayer and on-going dialogue, in order to remain a joyful person.
I don’t know where you’re at on your own joy journey, but I hope you’re encouraged to know that we aren’t on this journey alone. God promises to be with us, He’s given us His Spirit to strengthen us each day and empower us to live the joyful lives He has created us to live.
And on the days we forget to pray, forget to abide, and choose grumbling over joy (like my Monday!), we can fall on God’s grace and trust that He’ll gently remind us, restore us, and fill us with His joy again. 🙂
GratefulOne 