Every day starts with the choices of joy and worries. But mostly, we focus on our difficulties and problems. But we often forget that each day we have the choice to feed our fears, or to feed our joy.
Philippians 4:8 encourages us, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This verse means that even in the most discouraging of times we can make the choice to have joy despite our surroundings.
St. Paul reminds us in our weakness He is made strong, so through Christ, we can choose joy on this day.
Faking a smile or pretending is not the way to choose joy. True joy should exist even in our struggles. When we partner with God and shift our focus to trust and believe what He says, joy will become the outcome.
Here are some ways to choose joy in your life and difficulties:
1. Focus on the Good
Finding good in everything is not so easy, but it is so simple. Every day, there are many good to be found, even if that good is simply the fact you woke up today, or you have something to eat.
Joy can come from highlighting the good in our lives. We are exceedingly blessed to live in such an age where much of what we daily take for granted is freely given unto us. For many of us the freedom to worship the Lord how we wish in our country, having a full meal to eat, or clean drinking water is a luxury many do not have in other parts of the world.
Focusing on the good things, even if they have become something so common we often forget them, helps us choose to look to optimism in life. The Psalmist proclaimed in Psalm 27:13, “I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living” and whether that is good you are believing for, or goodness you already hold in your arms, we can find great joy.
2. Remembering Past Victories
The Bible would always says to recall past victories. This was not to merely reminisce about the glory days of old but to call upon reminders that the same God Who made a way before, will make a way again.
We can seek to recall times when God saw us through difficult times, or when He made a way when it looked impossible. He has never left our side, and we can find joy in the God Who stays.
3. The Lord is my Strength
Nehemiah 8:10 reminds us, “This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!”
Each day is a day the Lord has given and made, and therefore we have access to Him and His strength that day. When we choose to tap into His joy, it is there that we find true strength.
Paul reminds us that in our weakness He is strong. This is not an arm-wrestling match between us and God, rather it is a truth that despite our weaknesses, despite our shortcomings, and despite our weariness, we can rely on His strength. Relying on His strength comes from delighting ourselves in Him in connection.
We serve a strong and powerful God, yet your problems matter to Him. Find strength today in tapping into His joy over you.
4. Worship
It is said that all of creation is made to worship the Lord, even the trees clap their hands as the winds of the Lord breathe upon them. We too are made to worship Him, and in our worship, to Him, we can find great joy.
Worship can come from a song, whether it be from our own songs we write to Him, or worshipping along with other believers in praise music to Him. These songs burst forth before Him in celebrating Him, but in the midst of it, we find joy within.
Psalm 100 shares, “Make a joyful noise to the LORD, all the earth. Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs. Know that the LORD is God. It is He who made us, and we are His; a we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture. Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and bless His name.”
Music often has a way to lighten our hearts, even when they feel drenched in sorrow and when we let down our walls and guards and free ourselves into the music we are making the choice to choose joy despite the sorrow. Open the gates of your heart in joyful praise to God for Who He is, and Who He will always be.
5. Focus on God
In most every case that boils down to we can focus on the issues at hand, or we can focus on God, who is the solution no matter the problem.
All that is was, or will be is in His hands, for He is Sovereign, so no matter what the problem may be, He is then the Solution. Choosing to focus on Him rather than focus on the doubts, fears, or unknowns will help us find strength and joy in that day.
Perhaps you are worried about money today, or a relationship is struggling, or someone you love is sick. When we place our focus not on the dilemma, but we choose to believe that God is working all things together for His good and our benefit (Romans 8:28) it is there that our hearts can truly rest. If the story is not good, the story is not over yet.
6. Joy in Creation
When God created the Earth for the first man and woman, He chose to place them in a Garden, one of paradise. This was for good reason that He did not place them in a sky-rise apartment or suburb neighborhood, He knew their souls would thrive in the Garden.
In the same way, we can choose joy by changing our environments if even for a day. A walk in nature often seems to bring down to earth how small we are, and how big His creation really is. In nature, we can be reminded that His eye is on the sparrow, and He indeed watches us.
Connecting with nature is connecting with the song of the earth that sings its praises to the Almighty, and great joy is to be chosen and experienced there.
Father God,
Help us to choose joy today. Lord, in times of such overwhelming circumstances it can feel so daunting to get out of bed, not to mention choose joy. Yet Lord we know that You are with us. Just as You made a way for the Israel slaves in Egypt into the Promised Land, just as You broke the chains off Peter in prison, and just as You brought down the Walls of Jericho we know that the victory comes from You and You alone. Yet even in the waiting, even in the questioning, and even in the long and winding road we can find our joy in You, oh Lord. Help us this day to choose not just joy, but to choose to focus our attention, our love, our affections, our praises, and our days on You. We love You, Lord. You are good, and Your faithfulness endures forever.
In Jesus name,
Amen