We can choose joy no matter what, and, sister, it’s truly a choice! There is so much joy to be lived out in this crazy life on earth! So what’s stops us from having a joyful life no matter what? That’s a great question with lots of possible answers. Here are a few:
- Stress
- Mindset
- Poor choices
- Illness
- Other humans
That’s a broad list, but really what keeps us from living a joyful life is–ourselves. Paul in the Bible uses the imperative phrase, “rejoice, and again I say rejoice.” Joy is something we can have regardless of circumstances. James 1:2 tells us to “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds”. Why? Because hard moments work goodness in your soul.
I tell my kids about chores or something they don’t want to do at the moment, “You can be happy or miserable while you’re doing X; it’s entirely your choice.”
But good gracious it’s hard sometimes, isn’t it?? If only that person wouldn’t treat me that way, or my house was clean, or my kids would obey, or I had someone to talk to, or I felt better, or I could go on vacation. If all of these things are a source of your life lacking joy, then you’re living under your circumstances, not above them.
Our true source of joy has to be Christ and what he’s given us in life to calm the storms. And, yes, he’s given us tools to help us along the way.
Ready to enjoy the journey? Let’s do it together! Get started with our Joy Amidst Stress Worksheet.