Joy belongs to us.
When we accept God’s free gift of salvation, we receive much more than eternal life. It is a multi-faceted present. It’s like receiving a gift basket. First, you have the basket—salvation. But when you open it, you find all sorts of rewards you weren’t expecting.
One of those surprises is joy.
I love 1 Peter 1:8: "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy,"
An inexpressible and glorious joy. Doesn’t that sound wonderful?
The problem is life can be hard.
In 2012, I was diagnosed with bilateral brain tumors. They weren’t cancerous, but they still wreaked havoc on my life and health. Somewhere along the way, I lost my joy.
That’s not surprising when you haven’t felt well for years. Yes, I said years. From 2012 to 2016, I underwent a variety of treatments, and they all had side effects. By 2016, I was so weak I could barely walk.
And yet, I missed my joy.
I wanted it back. God promises it to me, and I believe He is faithful to His word.
The first thing I did was change the definitions. Joy and being happy are NOT the same thing. Happiness is based on our circumstances while the former is based on our relationship with God. It’s knowing that He loves us and hasn’t forsaken us—especially in the midst of our storms.
I don’t believe you can have joy without peace, so the first step in regaining joy is to accept the peace Jesus promises in John 14:27: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."
This isn’t easy when life bombards us with all sorts of problems. But God wouldn’t promise something that’s unobtainable. Through prayer and practice, we can experience increased freedom.
We can train ourselves to experience less anxiety. Here’s how this looks in my life: Whenever I catch myself worrying, I use it as an opportunity to communicate with my Creator. This doesn’t need to be long and drawn out, just a simple one or two-sentence statement of trust. It usually goes something like this: “I love You, and I know You love me. I trust You in all circumstances. Give me Your peace in this situation. Amen.”
It's amazing how powerful this request can be. The more we pray, the more settled we will feel. As this becomes part of our daily lives, it’s time to focus on another spiritual blessing.
I’ve developed an easy and effective formula, pulled from Matthew 22:36-39, to remind myself how to experience more joy, no matter my circumstances.
This passage reads, “‘Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?’ Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'"
I’ve developed an acronym to help us remember the truth principles in this Scripture:
Jesus said the first and most important commandment is to love God with all your heart and mind. This must extend beyond mere verbal claims to our actions.
We nourish any relationship, with God included, through time spent with that person. Therefore, if we want a deeper connection with God, then we’ll make effort to be in his company.
When we share our life with Him, we come to know, trust, and love Him more. Not for what He does for us but because we understand His heart toward us.
There are many ways to connect with God, but reading and studying the Bible should always be included. Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." We need that light to keep us going in the right direction.
Having said that, God created us differently, and that means we all have special and unique ways of interacting with God. He created me to love reading so I spend a lot of time studying and writing about God’s Word. My husband is an outdoorsman. He experiences God through His creation while fishing or digging in the dirt (yuck) as he gardens for us.
Both ways are completely different but still right for each of us.
My morning routine with God includes Bible reading and praying, but what I enjoy most is praise and worship. God is worthy of our adoration no matter what’s going on. And something wonderful happens as I focus on Him: He pours His supernatural peace over me that transcends man’s understanding.
This also helps me reflect upon all the ways He’s cared for me.
Gratitude can change your life. It’s like the old hymn says, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done." Thankfulness reminds us of how good God really is. Even during difficult times, He’s given us many blessings. Sometimes we get so stuck in our pity party, we forget how much God does for us every day. This will help get us unstuck.
Jesus talked of loving others again and again. He wants His followers to show God’s goodness to people. Some refer to this as the Golden Rule, and it doesn't have to be complicated or costly.
I have a confession. For a long time, I wasn’t much of a people person. My husband is the opposite. Through example, he’s taught me that most people enjoy others making an effort to connect with them—even if only for a minute or two.
It often doesn’t take much to make others feel special. Smile at them; be friendly; take time to listen to them. Compliment people, both friends and strangers.
Help someone by volunteering at church or community organizations, make a neighbor cookies, or simply share a meal with an elderly neighbor.
(Don’t forget your spouse and family. Some of us get so involved in serving friends and strangers that we have little or no energy left to love our spouse and family. God gave us our family. He expects us to love them as well.)
Yes, we are to focus first on Jesus and on others, but we must be good to ourselves as well. While God doesn’t condone selfishness or self-centeredness, He does want us to enjoy life. Healthy people take care of themselves in a balanced way.
Our emotional, physical, and spiritual needs are important. We can’t live a peace-and-joy-filled life when we’re routinely overscheduled.
When I’m feeling frazzled, it helps to know God doesn’t expect perfection. I also intentionally remember that mistakes don’t equal failure. Rather, they tend to signify growth, and there’s beauty in that, regardless of how my efforts turn out.
Of course, we want to do our best. But that doesn’t mean we have to sacrifice our emotional well-being in the process. We can still enjoy Christmas even if we burn the cookies. Birthdays can still create special memories even if we don’t find that perfect gift.
When I’m feeling restless and agitated, I like to “play hooky”—a day for myself (or with family) just to have fun. I don’t plan it, and love to forget my cell phone! An afternoon freed from life’s distractions rejuvenates me.
These are ways I’ve decreased my stress and increased my peace and joy. I pray regularly, reflecting upon all the ways God loves and cares for me. I intentionally find ways to show Him and others love, and I make sure to prioritize those things that feed my soul. Perhaps these steps will revitalize you as well.
Photo Credit: ©Conner Ching/Unsplash
Lillian Duncan, a member of the Wholly Loved Ministries team, is a multi-published author and former speech pathologist for children. Her tagline for many years was “stories of faith mingled with murder & mayhem” since she wrote Christian suspense and mystery novels. In 2012, she was told, “You have bilateral brain tumors.” She had no idea how much those words would change her life, but they did. She still loves to write suspense and mystery novels but branched out into other genres. Her goal is to write stories that entertain but also demonstrate God’s love for all of us. To learn more about Lillian, visit http://www.lillian-duncan.com.She also has a devotional blog at http://www.PowerUpWithGod.com.