Part Two
How can we find joy in the midst of a dreary, troublesome, difficult world? On those days when nothing seems to go right, when the car breaks down, and the rain won’t stop, and the kids are driving you crazy.
God’s joy is different that the world’s joy. God’s joy is a deep-seated sense of peace and confidence that comes from believing that God is in control, that He loves me, and that He is working for my good even if I can’t feel it. Rom. 8:28
Yet the busier we get, the more we have, the faster we go, the less we find peace and joy. Paul wrote to the Romans, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
I have a close friend who recently went through an extremely difficult divorce. She found herself sitting alone by a river with her world shattered beyond repair. Tears are coursed her cheeks, and she could see no help, no resolution, no hope.
And yet she had joy at the end of the day as the deep peace of God flooded her soul and the assurance that He is in control gave her hope and comfort. What was the secret path she followed to find God’s joy?
The Apostle Paul found joy while in house arrest, being chained to two Roman guards day and night. He was unable to carry on the ministry around the known world that had brought him joy. He wrote to his dear people in the Philippian church, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” Phil. 4:4
Maybe the Lord had to slow him down, chain him up, and give him a pen and some parchment so he could write the letters that would minister to not only a small group of believers in Philippi, but also to Christians down through the ages, missives that will live forever as the very Words of God.
What are the ways we can find this illusive thing called joy? Here are steps 4-6 on ways to transform your life by applying Scriptural principles and find joy.
4. Give thanks.
Thanksgiving changes our hearts and our minds. Rather than gripe, complain, and fuss, we should think about the things for which we can give thanks.
Write these items in a notebook every day and keep it handy. Review them and add more.
As we give thanks to God and to others, joy, contentment, and peace will flood our souls. After time, as we develop this tool, we will find it becomes a habit, an attitude, a mind-set for the glory of God.
“Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today and creates a vision for tomorrow.” Melody Beattie
“Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” I Thess. 5:18
5. Find something to do.
“I shall pass through this world but once. Any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any human being, let me do it now. Let me not defer it or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again.” Henry Drummond
There are great therapeutic benefits in finding a good thing to do and doing it with all our heart. Oftentimes, we don’t get involved in a ministry at church or in helping our neighbors because we are too busy.
When we struggle with a heavy trial or burden, we don’t feel like getting out there and mowing our elderly neighbor’s lawn or shoveling the snow from her walk, yet that might be the best thing we can do for our mental health. It is also a good witness and brings joy to those we serve.
“Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain.” Helen Keller
Clear your schedule and find something you can do to help others. There are opportunities all around us. Do you want joy? Get busy and help someone.
6. Share your burdens with a few close friends.
The friend I mentioned above swallowed her pride and shared what she was going through with her some of her friends. They formed a tight-knit bond that exists to this day. They prayed, gave practical advice, showed up at her door in times of need, brought flowers, offered willing ears and hearts to listen without judgment, shared Bible verses, and gave her love. This brought exceeding, great joy to her heart.
The Bible teaches us that we are part of a family. One of the reasons for this is that we can help each other in prayer and in practical ways. Don’t bear your burdens alone. You need a whole team of people who will pray you through this to a place of joy.
I often think of my mother who sat in her chair with the sun shining its bright beams around her. On her lap lay her open Bible. She closed her eyes with a smile on her face and prayed. Her precious Bible never left her side for long. Even as she cooked in the kitchen, it lay open to where she was reading. She had found joy.
When we “sit in the center” of God’s will and love, and “enjoy a bright day,” we find His joy.
The path to finding joy despite our circumstances is not so secret, after all.
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