Joy Might Be the Answer

Let all those rejoice who put their trust in you. Psalm 5:11 (NKJV)

Although you have not seen Jesus Christ, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy. 1 Peter 1:8

What brings you deep joy?

This is a question that takes a few moments to answer. We often think of the things that bring us fleeting happiness. But take a minute and think...what is it that makes you feel centered, at peace, joyful, and grateful?

For some, no doubt, thoughts of family will come to mind. For others who have strained relationships with family, it might be friends, or music, or a good conversation, or a meal with someone you love. It might be the beauty of nature, or the unquestioning love of an animal companion. Whatever it is for you...sit in that thought for a moment...think of the thing that brings you JOY.

Now, a simple question: is there a way you can make more time for THAT today? As you budget the hours you can spend over the next 24, can you intentionally put yourself in a place you will experience joy?

I believe we are at our best when we are feeling joyful and grateful. Conversely, I believe we are at our worst when we are afraid...because fear causes us to close in on ourselves...to protect what we cherish from that which we see as a threat. Fear is the "mama bear" instinct we all have, regardless of gender...and if you have ever crossed a mama bear, you know what that looks like. My one encounter with a female black bear and her cubs in the Alaska wilderness was enough to remind me that this tendency in me is fierce and does not bring out the best in my character.

When I am grateful and joyful, however, the opposite happens. Rather than contracting in on myself to protect, joy and gratitude cause me to expand outward. They cause me to reach out to others, to offer a smile or a kind word to a stranger, to let into my lane that jerk on the freeway who just HAS to get there 10 seconds before me. Put simply, joy and gratitude make me a better husband, father, pastor, and citizen.

So, as we all contemplate how to help with the divisions we see in our culture, may we each look to our own calendars and ask, "am I making time for joy and gratitude today?" It might just be that is the best thing we can do feel close to God and motivated to kindness. It might just be our time is better spent in things that bring us joy than in things that make us afraid. It might just be that JOY is the answer to some of the problems we face as a culture.

PRAYER:
God, though we may not see you face to face, help us to see you in the blessings of our lives. Move us to joy and gratitude, and show us how to share that joy with others. Amen.