5 ways to Choose Joy
“I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." Philippians 1:6
It was every parent's worst nightmare.
Our family slathered on the sunscreen and bolted into Busch Gardens, eager to start our day of adventure. Instantly, our senses became overwhelmed by the spectacle of Clydesdale horses, the roar of a passing train, and the scent of funnel cake. Struggling with the map, I turned to ask an employee for directions. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. Our son, Christian, not more than six or seven years of age at the time, had continued walking, enticed by his new surroundings. My husband and I began to scream his name while our daughter, Gabrielle, clutched my hand. "Christian! Christian!" It was nearly impossible to find him in the sea of people crowded into the front entrance of the park. And then, we spotted him. The railroad tracks sign, lowered for the oncoming train, stopped him just thirty feet to our left. Relieved beyond measure, we scooped him up, took a deep breath and thanked God for His grace.
Those few seconds, filled with sheer panic, felt like an eternity. It’s frightening to misplace something of value. If you've ever lost your way in the dark, lost your child in a store, or lost your wallet on an errand, you've experienced that sickening pit in your stomach. Yet, one of the most treasured things we can lose is our joy. Many of us walk through times when a sea of issues crowds in on us, leaving us frantically searching for joy. I wrote, “Finding Joy When Life is Out of Focus: A Study of Philippians for Joy-Thirsty Women,” as a resource encouraging us to look through the lens of God’s perspective and love the life we see.
Joy Defined
Scripture says that the joy of the Lord is our strength. Joy and happiness are not the same thing. Happiness could be defined as an attitude of satisfaction, based on our circumstance. Too often, we search for happiness through the fulfilment we receive from our job, financial status, or a relationship. This renders us victims to chance. Marriages become strained. Financial landscapes waver. Health deteriorates. Joy, on the other hand, is a choice. Life isn’t the luck of the draw; life is what we make it. Joy is a gift from God to those who believe, produced in us by the Holy Spirit. Maybe, like me, you wrestle not so much with how to receive joy, but how to maintain it.
The word, "joy," is mentioned more times in the four Chapters of Philippians than anywhere else in Scripture. Philippians Chapter 1:1-6 shares the following:
"Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
These verses give us five keys to choose joy
Rehearse the blessings of God instead of the offenses by others. (V. 3)
Redirect your prayers for others instead of praying only for your own needs. (V. 4)
Remember that you are not alone. Combat isolation by connecting with a friend or small group. (V. 5)
Recognize God as your Source of dependency instead of focusing on people’s deficiencies. (V. 6)
Rebuild relationships instead of barriers
Give hope an open road.
Don’t get lost when life becomes disorienting. We can find joy during seasons of adversity with one subtle shift: allowing God to focus our lens on His perspective. Choose an others-minded life steeped in joy. You’ll discover more than your lost car keys; you’ll find purpose.
