Should We Desire Joy? 

I would love to tell you that after 21 days writing about prayer, my days are full of joy - they are not.  These last posts have been hard to write and joy has overshadowed me and then seemingly left just as quickly at times.  I am living in the harshness of the kingdom coming but not yet fully come! 

But this month has been a huge blessing and brought many moments of joy.  

This month I have realized that there are so many moments which bring joy in our lives - that as we open our eyes and acknowledge them we realize how many opportunities for Joy God gives us.  He is constantly handing us joy and we are so quick to forget and feel lacking again! 

I have also realized is that there are many things we can do to position ourselves for joy, but really they are only springboards to meeting Joy Himself.  In thankfulness, in celebrating with others, in creation and in meditation, in song and in letting go of anxiety, in humility and in leaning in to others, we catch a glimpse of God Himself - of who He is - and we are drawn deeper into a relationship with Him and that is what brings us joy.  Joy is not just a feeling or a substance, He is a person and trying to achieve a substance is just empty in itself.  My God doesn’t desire for us to seek after joy - He desires us to seek after Him.  

To be honest, I have not always found joy this month when I have desired it.  I have fought depression and negative thought patterns strongly in the past week (which is not really a surprise when I am writing about joy, is it?!) but although joy has not come easily, it has come and I am grateful for those moments where the sun does shine through the clouds bright and strong! Those moments have been glorious and I am choosing to focus on them rather than the clouds! I am expectant that as God transforms my negative thought patterns into ‘faith thought patterns’, joy will be ever more present in my life. And I am longing for my heavenly home -where one day joy will be present forever and will never be stolen from me - how I long for that day! 

So joy has not always been easy to find this month, but God always has.  Every single time I have drawn close to Him, He has drawn close to me. (James 4:8) Lovingly, patiently and perfectly He has drawn me into His Word; He has patiently addressed my heart issues and brought me freedom and life. He has shown me more of who He is and brought me moments of captivating joy. I am a work in progress, and right now I feel like road-works in progress, but I know He is faithful and that this month is just the beginning of embracing joy in my life. 

Thank you for taking the time to read a post or more this month - thank you to those who sent emails and comments of encouragement - it is good to know that someone was encouraged by the things I wrote and that others too are seeking to see more joy in their lives.  

I'm probably going to take a short break from posting now, but I hope to get a post up in the next couple of weeks about a finished kitchen (remember those posts about the kitchen? It is still not finished yet! But we are hoping it will be soon!) 

 Let’s put on joy together: 

What do you desire more: joy or God? What do you seek after more? 

How has God brought you joy in the past month - think back and acknowledge His gifts of joy to you in the past month. 

Wow, we are all done! This is Day 21 of a 21 Day challenge to put on joy in practical ways. I hope that it is has been a blessing to you and you have found your days more clothed with joy than before! I'd love to hear how God has been encouraging you to be more joyful! Send me an email or write a comment and let me know! If you haven't signed up to receive new blogposts by email yet, you can by clicking to sign up here.