Give me anything that brings you glory. And I know there’ll be days when this life brings me pain, but if that’s what it takes to praise you–Jesus bring the rain.
-Mercy Me, “Bring the Rain”
This photo, from one of our recent events, gives me a laugh every time. Go ahead, caption it. And then think back to one of your “poopy”
days, months, or years. You know the feeling, when you are on the smelly side of things, waiting for the fragrant aroma of joy to return.
days, months, or years. You know the feeling, when you are on the smelly side of things, waiting for the fragrant aroma of joy to return. Someone asked me recently to explain the difference between happiness and joy. I replied that happiness is based on a feeling that goes along with favorable circumstances. It’s often short and fleeting. Joy, however, can exist and even flourish in difficult situations. It’s dependent on God’s spirit and is a fruit He produces.
But the question is always there. How can you walk in joy when the tears won’t stop? This is the season for joy, but there are so many hearts that are far from it.
When I walked through one of the toughest seasons of my life recently, I had to mine deep for the joy to sustain me through the days when hurt felt even deeper. I discovered that connection with other people is a vital piece to maintain joy and walk in it. Without that connection, communication fades and we feel hopeless. It’s the same with our connection to God. It’s difficult to feel connected to Him when my sadness keeps me at a distance. I will find excuses to stay in my negative place, and before I know it, my joy has become a casualty. It’s gone. Keeping my connection with God a priority keeps drawing me back to the joy.
Connecting with authentic people who will support and pray for us during our dark days is another key to walking in joy. Like the photo, there are those genuine friends behind us, cheering us on and lifting us up on the days when we feel like we’re left holding the poop emoji hat. God will reveal those genuine friends and provide us with an inner circle of people who keep us accountable. This discovery of a trustworthy inner circle has been a treasure for me, as they remind me to keep my focus on the mission, not the noise. They communicate and pray for me every day. If you don’t have these kinds of friendships, ask the Lord to put them in your path and reveal them to you. Then celebrate with those wonderful friends. The Bible encourages us to “rejoice with those who rejoice.” (Romans 12:15) Celebrating and rejoicing takes the focus off ourselves and places it on others. Giving and helping others during the darkness pulls you out of your box and into the light–where joy lives!
On those dark days, I remind myself to “choose gratitude” instead of “choose joy.” I find that when I embrace an attitude of praise and thanksgiving, the joy follows. When I was lying in that fetal position on my kitchen floor, broken and unable to move because of betrayal, I asked my husband to put my favorite praise hymns and songs on repeat. My heart was so broken that at first, I only listened, soaking the words in. After a few hours, my lips moved as I quietly sang along, and the heaviness in my heart lifted. It was as if brokenness could not continue in the midst of praise. My vision cleared, and I could utter the words, “Thank you, Jesus, for this place I am in, because you are here with me.” His presence was the sustaining joy in that broken place. It walked me through the pain, and it saved my life.
During this season, sorrow and joy can exist together. Those tough blows and painful trials don’t have to destroy our joy, even though they may leave us reeling and searching for answers. The joy is still present, and it will carry us through. The Apostle Paul wrote about his hardships and referred to being “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing.” (2 Corinthians 6:10). In James, this theme appears again as we are encouraged to consider it pure joy when we face all kinds of trials because there is the potential for a positive outcome.
When life is happy and sunny, I may have temporal blessings, but His presence is felt with deeper intensity in the struggle. In the moments
when I choose joy amid the broken places and cry for help, He answers. When circumstances overwhelm me and my hope is slipping away, I cling to God, and then something extraordinary happens. He shows me His glory, and the glimpse of that glory overshadows my suffering. My focus is no longer on removing the trial; it shifts to knowing God deeper and experiencing more of Him.
Choosing joy is tough on certain dark, clouded days. But the torrential downpours in life that leave me feeling hopeless are where I find Jesus. His presence is more powerful than any broken place, His promises far greater than any negative circumstance. I am clinging to that this season because it’s where the joy lives.
#Godcanchangepoopydays #sustainingjoy #praisethroughtoughstuff
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