joy

What is true Joy? What does it look like? How does it feel? For me Joy is something that results from a sense of hope and peace. As a simple example think of a the Joy a parent feels when an infant or toddler settles down and falls asleep…before that moment the home was busy with the child eating and having play time. Depending on the age, the child may have been moving around from place to place in the home finding many things it should not be getting into…so when the moment comes at the end of a day and a child has fallen asleep there is a sense of peace. As you look at the child sleeping peacefully you may begin to think about the future and what may come…that would be hope…hope for a better tomorrow, hope for what they will become. The combination of this hope and peace result in Joy.

I use this example because in my experience there usually is more Joy in the world when little children are around…why? Because there is hope for the future and often, not always, the adults nearby are less concerned about other things and they may be more at peace. Now I understand that this is not always the case around young children and when there is not Joy it is on the adults to choose the attitude that creates Joy or they can choose the attitude that creates stress.

So how do we find hope and peace to create more Joy? Let’s start with hope…hope is about goals and dreams. What are your goals? What are your dreams? If you are not sure or you haven’t thought about it much, take some time to identify them. Author John C Maxwell writes in his book “Developing the Leaders Around You” to fill in the blanks on 2 statements to help identify your dream…

If I had _________________, I would ________________.

The idea is if you had unlimited resources (such as time, money, etc) that you would pursue your dream. After you figure out what your dream is pray about it. If you know your dreams then offer them up to God and be open to God telling you he has a different goal or dream in mind for you…don’t worry it won’t be something you don’t enjoy…he made you, specifically for his plan for your life so you will like it if you let him lead you.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

The peace that leads to Joy comes directly from trusting that God is in control and no matter what happens in the end he his holding you and if you let him, he will lead you to places you never thought possible. For me 2-3 years ago a thought about writing a blog about my faith…huh yeah right…yet here I am. It is not perfect and it doesn’t have thousands of followers but if every post can impact just one person then I have done something he wants me to do. I pray more of us will choose hope and peace and that we all will choose to experience more Joy. Amen.

If you stop and think about it, where is that place in your life? Is it a physical location or something different? Is it in an act of kindness you have experienced or seen happening to another person or in a story you have heard about other people?

Sometimes it can be hard to find him…when I think about it and realize I haven’t seen him or been aware of him…I have learned not to ask God to show himself in some way but rather give me eyes and ears to see your work in the world. For me, the key is where are we focusing our attention…if we are self-focused we will miss just about every opportunity to see God’s work in the world. As we learn to focus on a relationship with God and others first we begin to acquire a new perspective. This type of change in focus requires a commitment to change your routines and habits in life. If we just try to work it all in to our current schedule and life we will fail…I speak from experience.

For many years I was consumed with my work and the company I worked for and my “position” in the social stratosphere. I would work in “my time” with God on the weekend before getting down to business. This life created several false idols for me, because deep in my heart I had not surrendered and committed myself to Jesus. When I finally stopped pursuing my plans, my ideas for how things should be and truly dedicated daily time in devotion and worship…I finally started to see opportunities to connect with the world through God. Some would argue that I have given up on living my life…my response is…you are correct in that I have given up trying to live my life my way and instead I am trying to live my life the way God has intended for me. Of course, I am human and still make plenty of mistakes and have trouble with temptations but my life has never had more joy, more peace and contentment.

So where is it? Where is the one place in your life right now that you see God? Where is it that God has cracked a door or a window in your life and you just need to open it and step through trusting that no matter what happens God will be at your side and if you commit to meeting with him daily you will begin to experience life in a whole new way?

May God’s peace be with you