It has been one trial after another with financial losses, health crises, and other difficult circumstances that have deeply impacted my marriage and ministry. It became easy to become discouraged and wonder if God was real. One night I screamed at him in pain. I asked the Lord to help me remove difficult circumstances so that I could find joy again.
But God told me something that changed my view of joy: I could still have joy; I have to choose it. We can all agree that life is not the same as it was ten or even fifteen years ago. Strange weather phenomena, earthquakes, terrorist attacks, loss of freedom, gun violence, etc. are just a few of the many problems plaguing our country today. It’s easy to turn on the television and hear stories about how our country is deteriorating. Because of this, it is easy to become hopeless and lose our joy.
However, James 1:2-6 has this to say about joy: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance complete its work so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, 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 do not doubt, for he 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 feelings, or we can choose to be grounded in God and trust Him. It’s easy to get caught up in what’s happening in the world when we consume more media than God’s word.
Here are some ways to proclaim joy into your life this year:
Memorize Scripture
The best way to refute the negative images and talk of others is to remember what God says. The word of God is the antidote to the life of the world. Read the word regularly and study its meaning. Hold on to God’s word even when life seems hopeless. Trust the Lord and know that He is in control. Part of the joy is placing our hope in the one who can turn any situation around for His good.
Pick up a journal and think about its promises. Think about all the times he saved you from bad situations. Think of all the ways He has given you hope and grounded you in truth. Then think about all the situations in your life that God has turned around that seemed impossible to overcome. When we choose to focus our thoughts on God’s truth, we know that He can do anything! This alone should help us find joy again, because we know that joy is contentment in our circumstances, even if they seem impossible to overcome.
Enter the community
It’s easy to become hopeless when we surround ourselves with those who don’t know God’s word. It’s also easy to find yourself isolated or alone by not engaging with others. We can do everything on our own, without 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 us. Just knowing that there are people in the world going through the same things is comforting. It is also essential to hear from those who have overcome these trials with peace, joy and contentment.
Surround yourself with people who will not only encourage you, but also tell the truth about your life. You need people in your life who will help you separate the truth from the lies. When you’re feeling down, you need someone to encourage you and remind you that you’re better than you think. In the same way, when you are engaged in sin, it is essential to have people in your life who love you enough to tell you the truth. You need people who will kindly confront you about your sin and partner with you in prayer to help others.
If you are not part of a local church, consider doing so. Some of the best experiences of your life will be with people you have known in a local church who will surround you with love, encouragement, and truth. In today’s world of fake news, you need people in your life who will tell you and help you know right from wrong.
If you find that a local church doesn’t have the community you dream of, consider joining a small group or other organization that will provide it. Find a place that shares your hobbies or has current common interests. For example, if you are 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 see, both in your local community and online. By initiating a connection, you will have the joy of the intimacy of personal connection that you crave.
Practice contentment
One of the main enemies of joy is comparison. When people scroll through their social media feeds, it’s easy to quickly compare themselves to others. It’s easy to think that their lives are inferior to others simply because of what people share, what they have, or who their friends are. However, social media is a highlight. It’s rare that people share the big experiences of their lives, or the big arguments they have with their husband, their wayward child, or their health crises. It’s easy to forget this fact and compare yourself to others. This kind of comparison is the thief of joy.
Take frequent breaks from social media, or abandon it altogether. If you find your attitude is negative after quitting social media, ask yourself why you feel this way. More than likely, it’s because you came across someone’s social media feed, filled with their significant accomplishments and all the great possessions they own. While this may bring them joy in the short term, it rarely does in the long term.
Putting your hope and trust in Jesus is the only way to always have true contentment. Be someone who chooses joy over comparison. Get off social media and stop falling into the temptation of posting negative comments or chatting with others about current topics. It rarely gets us what we want, and even if we want to change people’s minds, posting on social media very rarely achieves that.
Be a person who influences the people 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 that people are Christians by their love, their peace, and ultimately their joy.
Don’t let Satan take a seat at the table of your mind by allowing yourself to complain or argue with others. Instead, practice contentment and gratitude. In doing so, you will feel joy like never before.
How can we have joy when life’s circumstances can so easily bring us down?
Photo credit: ©GettyImages/aldomurillo
