Trial after trial followed, including financial losses, health crises, and other difficult circumstances that deeply affected my marriage and ministry. I became easily discouraged and began to wonder if God really existed. One night I cried out to him in pain. I asked the Lord to help me remove difficult situations so that I could have joy again.
But God said something to me that changed my perspective on joy. you have to choose it. We would all agree that life is not the same as it was 10 or even 15 years ago. Extreme weather events, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, loss of freedom, and gun violence are just a few of the many issues plaguing our nation today. It’s easy to turn on the television and see how our country is deteriorating. Because of this, it is easy to despair and lose joy.
But James 1:2-6 says this about joy: “Brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of various kinds, consider it pure joy, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let patience finish its work and make you mature and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, But if you ask, you should ask God, who gives freely to everyone without finding fault. ”
We must choose joy every day. We can choose to listen to the world’s barrage of negative thoughts and emotions, or we can choose to stay grounded in God and place our trust in Him. When you consume more media than God’s Word, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s going on in the world.
Here are some ways to declare joy in life this year.
memorize the bible
The best way to refute and speak out against the negative images of others is to remember God’s Word. God’s Word is the antidote to the life of the world. Read the words regularly and study their meanings. Cling to God’s Word even when life seems hopeless. Trust in the Lord and know that He is in control. Part of the joy is placing hope in someone who can turn any situation around to their benefit.
Keep a journal and think about his promises. Remember that he saved you from a bad situation. Think about all the ways God has given you hope and anchored you in truth. Then think back to all the situations in your life where God turned around a situation that seemed insurmountable. When we choose to focus our thoughts on God’s truth, we know that God can do anything. That alone should help us find joy again. Because we know that joy is being satisfied with our situation, no matter how insurmountable it may seem.
join the community
It’s easy to become filled with despair when you’re surrounded by people who don’t know God’s Word. Also, not interacting with other people can make you more likely to become isolated and lonely. We can do everything on our own without the help of others if we choose, or we can choose to be in community with our brothers and sisters in Christ who are on the same journey as us. Just knowing that there are other people in the world going through the same ordeal makes me feel better. It is also essential to hear stories of people who have overcome those challenges with peace, joy, and contentment.
Surround yourself with people who not only encourage you, but also tell you the truth about your life. You need someone in your life who will help you distinguish between truth and lies. When you’re feeling down on yourself, you need someone to cheer you up and remind you that you’re better than you think. Similarly, when you are in sin, it is essential to have someone in your life who loves you enough to tell you the truth. You need someone who will graciously confront you about your sins and join you in prayer to help others.
If you don’t belong to a local church organization, consider joining one. Some of the best experiences of your life will be with the people he knew at your local church who will surround you with love, encouragement, and truth. In today’s world of misinformation, you need people in your life to help you and tell you the difference between right and wrong.
If you find that your local church group doesn’t have the community you want, consider joining a small group or other organization that provides it. Share hobbies or find where you currently have common interests. For example, if you’re a senior, consider joining your local YMCA or Silver Sneakers program. If you’re an artist, find social media groups where artists share your interests. There’s no shortage of people to meet, both in your local community and on the internet. Initiating a connection can give you the pleasure of the intimacy of a personal connection that you’ve been craving.
practice contentment
One of the main enemies of joy is comparison. When people scroll through their social media feeds, they tend to quickly compare themselves to others. It’s easy to think that your life is inferior to others just because of what people share, what they have, and who their friends are. However, social media is a highlight reel. Very few people share great experiences in life, big fights with husbands, wayward children, health crises, etc. It’s easy to forget this fact and compare yourself to others. Such comparisons are joy thieves.
Take frequent breaks from social media or quit it completely. If you feel that your attitude has become more negative after quitting social media, ask yourself why you feel that way. Maybe it’s because you came across someone’s social media feed, filled with important accomplishments or amazing properties they own. This may bring joy in the short term, but little joy in the long term.
Putting your hope and trust in Jesus is the only way to find true contentment at any time. Be the person who chooses joy over comparison. Stay off social media and stop falling into the temptation of posting negative comments or discussing hot topics with others. These rarely achieve what we want, and even if you try to change people’s minds, posting on social media rarely does that.
Be the person who influences your life. Be an example to those who know Jesus. Don’t let anyone confuse your life with the life of an unbeliever. Christians should be easy to identify. We will know that people are Christians by their love, peace, and ultimately joy.
Don’t allow Satan to take a seat at the table of your heart by allowing you to complain or argue with others. Instead, practice contentment and gratitude. By doing so, you will experience joy like never before.
How can we have joy when life’s circumstances easily bring us down?
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/aldomurillo
Michelle S. Lazurek is an award-winning multi-genre author, speaker, pastor’s wife, and mother. She is a literary agent with Wordwise Media Services and host of The Spiritual Reset podcast. Her new children’s book, Hall of Faith, encourages children to understand that God can be trusted. When I’m not working, I enjoy drinking Starbucks lattes, collecting 80’s memorabilia, and spending time with my family and dog. For more information, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
