Day 1
Author:
November 04, 2018
"You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."
Psalm 16:11
Stress and worry are smooth criminals. They lurk beneath the surface of everyday circumstances, waiting to come to light at the first hint of a deadline, promotion, project, or milestone. They creep into our plans and daydreams like lions stalking prey. You're walking through the savanna of your day, brushing aside the tall grass around you, when a rustle sounds to your right: You forgot to buy groceries/file taxes/fill your gas tank. A mental note appears, and you're consumed with guilt for a moment. A few more steps, a few more minutes, and you stumble over a rock: There's a big meeting next week, and you're underprepared. Your stroll becomes a brisk walk, as you speed to outpace the threat of your thoughts. A low growl whispers in your ear: You'll never be able to finish the day's tasks. You're not enough. Cue panic as the worry pounces and pins you to the ground.
Moments like this can become ordinary if you aren't careful. It becomes all too easy to ask, "what's the point?" When I become stressed, I have a one-track mind for my insufficiency and failure. I neglect relationships, have a permanent scowl, and snap at the innocent. In the middle of my panic this morning, the Lord whispered to me:
Daughter, when you are stressed and in despair, you've lost sight of your perfect joy in Christ.
To you, joy may be little more than a tiding of goodwill towards men, set up in a thrifted frame with the Christmas decor each December (or the day after Halloween, no judgment here). In actuality, joy is much grander than that. Jesus rocked my world recently with this gem from She Reads Truth:
True joy is not something that can be conjured up or willed.
Joy is not constant happiness or fake smiles, joy is faith, peace, and love's beautiful overflow. When we trust the Lord with the nitty-gritty details of our life, we have the freedom to love others well. Do you think that if you surrender the reins on your life to God, he's going to let your job, family, or ambitions crumble? There is unexplainable peace found in Christ's joy, because joy is simply embracing and acknowledging your freedom in redemption. God offers joy to us at every turn, in every season, in all circumstances. All it takes is worship. All it takes is intimacy with Christ. Acknowledging that God is greater than our current circumstances lifts the burdens of this world off of our shoulders so we can rejoice with gladness.
Finding joy requires faith in God's power, and an eternal perspective. This world is our temporary home, but if we put our faith in Jesus, we'll spend eternity worshipping. What greater joy can be found than in worshipping the Creator of all? What greater joy can be found in deep intimacy with the one who knows every star by name?
"I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High."
Psalm 9:2
BACK