J.O.Y.
Need a little? Joy that is.
A friend recently told me “You can’t let ‘this’ keep you from living life.” What is your ‘this’? Maybe you don’t have one…yet. But we all do from time to time.
For a long time, I’ve been signing my emails with the tag line “counting it all J.O.Y.”. “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,” (James 1:2 ESV) Beyond this obvious reference I found a little nugget of light. Just what we need for the ‘this’ times.
I was always the happy child. The one who always said ‘fine’ when asked how I was feeling when sick. The one quick to smile after an argument or sad news. I found humor in most things. Once I became a Christian, I felt it was a sweet gift from God. The way He made me.
But that me has been missing lately. I had my idea of how things should be when I reached this point in life. And when suddenly they weren’t, the smile faded; humor was no place to be found. I was not fine.
We all know that happy and joy are not the same right? Happy depends on circumstances. We’re all happy when the bills are paid and there’s leftover. We’re all happy when it’s vacation time.
But joy – that’s different. It isn’t circumstantial. It’s not a thing that can be bought or place you can go. Joy is a gift you can receive or you can reject. Because joy is a person and joy is a promise. You see, my original idea was that j-o-y was an acronym for Jesus Only You. That was long before my current ‘this’.
And so, I’m trying to unbury my gift. Because it was my choice to cover it over with…worry, fear, anxiety. And I can’t unbury it on my own. It’s amazing just how helpless we are. We need our God every moment. Jesus only You can fix my ‘this’ – or help me live joy in the midst of ‘this’. Jesus only You can take my shovel and unbury the gift of giving praise in all circumstances. “Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1Thessalonians 5:16-18 NLT)
Here, sweet Lord, take my shovel, resurrect my gift. May Your praise ever be on my lips.
parisrenae 
I’ve been in a weird place lately as well.
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Sometimes, like Elijah, I just need time to rest.
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I know what you mean – illusive at times, but we need it – with Him may you find true rest…
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This is so true. So wonderfully spoken my friend.
Visiting today from Let’s Have Coffee #21&22
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Paula – may much J.O.Y. be yours all your days…
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Love this post. Thank you for sharing.
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Grateful for the way you are making a conscious choice in the direction of JOY!
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May your joy increase because He is ever present and leading you…
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During these very troubling times I need constant reminders to turn it over to Jesus. Thank you. Marla Mancil
Marla Mancil
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Oh yes, we do need those reminders. He tells us to cast it on Him – literally throw it – blessings as you do…
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Hello, how are you doing I like your text message.
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