During my bible study this morning, I’m learning about joy in hardship. Weird concept right?!
I don’t know about you, but most of my days start with prayer and bible study, getting my mind right for the day, then without fail I close the book, something happens and I’m letting my emotions, frustrations, fears, and anxieties take hold and control me. I don’t think there is anything more frustrating than this pattern.
I started to journal my prayer for God to teach me how to find joy in my heart. Logically I get it, count your blessings, but somehow that feeling is fleeting. I do know that finding joy takes work. Especially when our minds want to let emotions run the show.
“The human heart is the most deceitful of all things,and desperately wicked.” – Jeremiah 17:9
That’s refreshing right!? It is so true, I am led astray by my flesh all too often. While I was praying my prayer to understand joy in hardship I recalled Robin Williams in the movie Hook. (love this movie even to this day)
It took Peter a long long time to discover he was THE Peter Pan! He had the weight of the world on his shoulders and couldn’t look past all of that to find the joy within his heart, the real and powerful joy that would teach him how to fly again.
Wow, I sure can relate here. My busy day, errands, child raising, farm running, career working…. it so quickly takes away from the real joy that exists inside of me, inside all of us.
Jesus is our joy – He is who we are supposed to keep our minds and hearts set on. Faith, Hope, and LOVE. My joy doesn’t stop there if I get out of the blinders of my to-do list and look around. I have a beautiful and growing family, friends, a job, horses… These are all joys.
Joy is happiness without the moodiness – Curtis Jones
One last thing I leave you today that Beth Moore said: Faith can be work, Love can be labor, and hope can be long. Say these things to yourself as the moodiness increases. Use it has a reminder to keep your eyes set on your “Happy Place” and don’t forget how to fly.
Have a Blessed Day
