The JOY Challenge: Day One

I have a confession. Joy doesn't come naturally to me. Empathy, yes. Guilt, yes. But joy, not so much. I'm not sure why this is exactly. Biology, theology, who knows.

I like to explain my tendency toward the melancholy a bit like this: When you let go of the steering wheel in your car it naturally drifts one way or the other. It's the same with my emotions. So it's up to me to intentionally grab the wheel and pull it back to center (with God's help, of course).

So I'm throwing down the gauntlet for myself. Over the next forty days I'm going to intentionally look for more of what brings me joy and tell you about it.

This is day one.

And today sitting on my back porch by our firepit with my husband brought me joy. In a little over week we'll celebrate nine years of marriage. Not perfect, of course, but good.

On that same back porch, these flowers grow. Their existence is remarkable because I'm not good at maintaining much. But they, like us, are somehow thriving despite ideal conditions!

 

I once thought of joy as an emotion...now I see it as a choice.

And I'm choosing it, right here, right now.

"I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances." Philippians 4:11

Would you like to join me in the Joy challenge? Just share one thing that brings you joy. I'll have random giveaways for people who comment or subscribe during the next forty days. And you never know when it could be you...  

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Comments

[Gabi]

Hot tea and hugs:)

[Rebecca]

Good for you. Great post. Joy? Cooking, music, family giggles.

[Mrs. H]

Joy......Stepping outside late last night, looking at the stars and seeing them spread across the sky. Our God is so great!...Looking next to me this morning in the church pew and seeing my daughter with a princess flower/ribbon crown in her hair. She's growing up so fast & is so independent (@ age 6), but still has the enthusiasm of a child and is silly & girly enough for princess things....sharing in others' good news and hearing how God is impacting their lives.

[KD]

My sweet new grandson....6 days old!Seeing a butterflyWhen the sky is soooo blue with white puffy cloudsTaking photos (and having them turn out good!)My flowers in my backyard

Thank you for this post....God keeps "reminding" me of all the choices I make...My "word" for the year is DECIDE.I also thought one day I would just have joy and it would last....I is a choice and it does come with the choice!!!

[Linda]

I'm in Holley. There was a time in the life of our family when I thought joy would never be possible again. There was just too much on-going fear and uncertainty about the future. But you are right - it is a choice. For me it was choosing, in spite of the fact that the circumstances remain the same, to trust the Lord. I finally, after so much anger and bitterness and disappointment knew that there was nowhere else for me to go but to Him. It meant surrendering what I thought was control and absolutely putting everything in His hands.Over time I realized that there was this inexplicable sense of peace - and then came joy.I find I have seasons where I have to go through the process all over again - making that choice.So for today - I find joy in a Father whose love never fails and whose promises are true.

[Susan]

today my joy was found in the children at church . . ."I was glad when they said to me, Let's go to the house of the Lord." and that the song Jesus loves me still carries the same message to little ones today

[Amy G]

Oh, I so needed this right now. Thank you. I do have to CHOOSE it. Life is not always easy, but I also want to choose to be joyful. If I don't, my house is not a pleasant place to be. And I don't want that.

My joy is hearing my 3 year old son say "Mom, I wuv you" just because. Joy is looking into a clear night sky and seeing the beautiful stars that God made and named. Joy is going out on a date with my husband! :)

[Jacquie Olsen]

I love this challenge - it brings me joy! My joyful moments include: enjoying a cup of coffee on Saturday morning with my husband (the only day we get to do this and are not rushed); seeing beautiful birds, especially the humingbird (yes, I am a bird lover); watching my flowers grow and bloom; a clean home; soft music and then sometimes loud. I better stop here. I am enjoying this too much and will save some for tomorrow. :) Thanks, Holley!

[songbirdtiff]

Joy doesn't come naturally to me either. Lately we have been going through some stressful job stuff, and Joy hasn't found me. I don't want it to be like this so I'm trying, making an effort to be joyful. Today, I was able to find joy in our worship service. Regardless of what has happened over the past week, I was able to shut all the bad stuff out and just focus on worshiping. It's a start.

[Fonda]

Watching my kids and their smiles. :-)