A few days ago, we were having company over for dinner and I was a teeny bit stressed about the preparation. I always think I’m much further ahead than I am, and I go from totally fine to the-world-is-falling-apart in three seconds flat. My 8-year-old son looked at me and asked innocently, “Mom, what can you look forward to today so you won’t be so stressed and you can relax?” And my jaw dropped open. Here was my child directing me to look past the hard thing to the good—to find the joy in the moment rather than allowing the stress to destroy it.
We do that on school days as well for the kids. I ask them what they are excited about that day, as they moan and carry on about how much they are dreading school. (Do your kids do that too or is it just mine??) Sometimes they struggle to find something. Usually, we talk about recess, as that’s a bright point in the day for both of them. Or hanging out with a friend. Or reading that book they started yesterday and didn’t get to finish. They find the joy, and then going to school again isn’t quite so daunting.
I often let the cares of the world steal my joy. Instead of finding the positive hidden in the negative, I dwell on the hard thing as it gets bigger and bigger in my mind. Dwelling on the negative doesn’t do any good—in fact, it makes the hard circumstance seem even harder and bigger and more life-altering. The stuff that we are struggling through doesn’t get to be our master.
I want to find Jesus even in the negative—the betrayals, the rejections, the losses, the deaths, the feelings of being invisible, worthless or bothersome. If I can find some joy and hope in the middle of those things, I am not ruled by them. I can consider it ALL joy, not just the happy times. So, when I find out my day isn’t going as planned, I can find something to bring me joy in it. When I discover a person has turned and walked away from me in rejection, I can pray that God will forgive them through me and that they will find freedom in their journey—and recognize that this gives me an opportunity to pursue some new friendships. When things seem bleak with finances, I can find joy in discovering new ways to stretch a dollar, or to find something free to do. When I watch a close friend die, I grieve the loss and find joy in knowing I will see them again one day. When my child is in pain, I can sit with them and be grateful that I am available to do that. When I experience illness and pain, I can see the sweet pang of living life always on the edge of a precipice—not allowing myself to get caught up in the trivial, meaningless things but pursuing the important ones because I don’t have time or energy for anything else.
When we consider it joy, allowing each place in our lives to be an opportunity to experience joy, we are controlled by no one. We can find a silver lining to any dark cloud because we know we have a God who is loving and active in His kids’ lives. We know the suffering is only for a time, and there is something beautiful that He is growing in the poop of the hard stuff.
What joy can you see in your day today, regardless of how daunting it might look right now? Can you see Jesus in it? He is right there, willing to be present and strong in your weakness. You may have to look hard, but I bet you can find something or someone that brings you joy even in this present circumstance.
My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking. James 1:2-4