Choose Joy!

If you were asked to describe an experience that brought you great joy, what would it be? 

In a small group discussion, I was asked a similar question.  “Describe an experience in which God did something for you that gave you great joy?”  I have to be honest, this question really stumped me. If you asked me about my struggles, disappointments, my hurts or my regrets I could list them straight away.  Why then, did such a simple question bewilder me?  Especially, since experiencing joy was at the top of my 2019 list. 

So, I did what I often do these days, I googled it.  I found an excellent little YouTube clip of Brene Brown with Oprah Winfrey on her “Super Soul Sunday”. She said joy is an emotion many seek, but it’s by far the most terrifying feeling that we face. “We are afraid joy will be taken away, so we beat it to the punch.”  “We are trying to dress rehearse tragedy to beat vulnerability.” 

How many of us have had our joy taken away, maybe even stolen by hurts, regrets or disappointment?  Perhaps we have become worn down by life’s challenges and when we get a glimpse of joy, we push it aside fearing that something bad is going to happen instead.  We are waiting ‘for the other shoe to drop’, as if we deserve suffering.  In doing so, we lose our joy.

What if suffering and joy can co-exist? And, what if joy is something we must choose? It is an act of the will to pursue joy…and if suffering does follow, as in this life it surely will, we deal with that when it happens. (I would say ‘and with God’s grace’.)  We must hold precious moments as sacred and push aside our fears and anxieties about what might ruin this moment.   

Richard Foster says “Celebration brings joy into life”. That’s why I did not hesitate to commit to driving ten hours to attend a family wedding in a few weeks’ time.  I am prepared to drop everything to attend a funeral, so why not grab hold of the invitations we are given to rejoice.  What could give more joy than to celebrate the marriage of two beautiful young people in love.

Of course, not every day involves a wedding invitation, but there is plenty that we are invited to celebrate and give thanks for.  Whatever happened to the family meal where people paused long enough to give thanks for their day and shared that together?  Should thanksgiving be only a once a year event?  What about the sheer joy of being alive and watching a sunrise or a sunset? What about the joy of being “rooted and grounded in God?” (Richard Foster, Celebration of Discipline p 252)

So, this week, I have made it my commitment to celebrate the good things in my life.  I must start with being thankful.  Brene says “cultivation of gratitude is the way home.”  Scripture says “give thanks in all circumstances…” (1 Thessalonians 5:18) This week, I choose joy.  Will you choose joy too?

“What if it’s not the circumstances that creates joy? It’s you!” (author unknown)

Photo by Ben White on Unsplash