It had been one trial after another with financial loss, health crises, and other challenging circumstances that deeply impacted my marriage and my ministry. It became easy to become discouraged and wonder if God was even real. One night, I cried out to him in pain. I asked the Lord to help remove the challenging circumstances so I could have joy again.
But God said something to me that changed my perspective on joy: I could always have joy; I must choose it. We can all agree that life is not the same as it was ten or even fifteen years ago. Strange weather patterns, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, loss of freedom, gun violence, etc., are just some of the many issues plaguing our nation today. It is easy to turn on the TV and hear stories of all the ways our country is deteriorating. Because of this, it is easy to be in despair and lose our joy.
However, James 1:2-6 has this to say when it comes to joy: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
Every day, we must choose joy. We can choose to listen to the world's barrage of negative thoughts and sentiments, or we can choose to be anchored in God and put our trust in him. It is easy to get caught up in what's going on in the world when we consume more media than we do the word of God.
Here are some ways to proclaim joy in your life this year:
Memorize Scripture
The best way to refute others' negative images and talk is to remember what God says. The word of God is the antidote to the world's lives. Read the word regularly and study its meaning. Cling to the word of God even when life looks hopeless. Trust in the Lord and know that he is in control of everything. Part of joy is putting our hope in the one who can turn any situation around for his good.
Take a journal and reflect on his promises. Think about all the times he has saved you from bad situations. Think about all the ways he has given you hope and anchored you to the truth. Then, reflect on all the situations in your life that God has turned around that seemed impossible to overcome. When we choose to focus our thoughts on the truth of God, we know he can do anything! That alone should help us to reclaim joy because we know that joy is contentment in our circumstances, no matter how impossible they may seem to overcome.
Get in Community
It is easy to be full of despair when we surround ourselves with those who do not know the word of God. It is also easy to become isolated or alone by not engaging with others. We can do everything on our own with no help from others if we choose, or we can choose to be in community with those brothers and sisters in Christ who are on the same journey as we are. Just knowing that there are people in the world going through the same trials is comforting. It is also essential to hear from those who overcome those trials with peace, joy, and contentment.
Surround yourself with people who not only will encourage you but also speak the truth to your life. You need people in your life who will help you separate truth from lies. When you get down on yourself, you need someone to encourage you and remind you that you are better than you think. Similarly, when you're engaged in a sin, it is essential to have people in your life who love you enough to tell you the truth. You need people who will gently confront you about your sin and partner with you in prayer to help people.
If you are not in a local church body, consider doing so. Some of the best experiences of your life will be with people he knew in a local church body who will surround you with love, encouragement, and the truth. In today's world of false information, you need people in your life who will tell you and help you separate right from wrong.
If you find a local church body does not have the community you crave, consider joining a small group or other organization that will give you that. Find a place that shares your hobbies or has current common interests. For example, if you are a senior citizen, consider joining your local YMCA or Silver Sneakers program. If you're an artist, find social media groups where artists share your interests. There is no shortage of people to see, both in your local community and on the Internet. By initiating a connection, you will have the joy of the personal connection intimacy you crave.
Practice Contentment
One of the main enemies of joy is comparison. As people scroll through their social media feeds, it's easy to compare themselves to others quickly. It is easy to think their life is inferior to others simply because of what people share, what they have, or who their friends are. However, social media is a highlight reel. Rarely do people share the great experiences in their lives, or the big fights they have with their husband, their wayward child, or their health crises. It's easy to forget this fact and compare yourself to others. That kind of comparison is the thief of joy.
Take frequent breaks from social media, or get off it altogether. If you find your attitude is negative after you get off social media, ask yourself why you feel that way. More than likely, it is because you came across someone's social media feed, full of their significant accomplishments and all the great possessions they own. While this might give them joy in the short term, it rarely does in the long term.
Putting your hope and trust in Jesus is the only way always to have true contentment. Be someone who chooses joy rather than comparison. Get off social media and stop falling into the temptation to post negative comments or argue with others about hot-button topics. These rarely get us to what we want, and even if we’re going to change people's minds, posting on social media very seldom does.
Be a person who influences those in your life. Be an example of someone who knows Jesus. Don't let someone confuse your life with that of an unbeliever. Christians should be easy to spot. We will know people are Christians by their love, their peace, and ultimately their joy.
Don't let Satan get a seat at the table of your mind by allowing you to complain or argue with others. Instead, practice contentment and thankfulness. In so doing, you will experience joy like never before.
How can we have joy when life circumstances can get us down so easily?
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ aldomurillo
