When I was a child, I remember singing “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart, down in my heart to STAY!” I thought the joy would stay in my heart at all times. But wow! Little did I know that as I grew up, joy would sometimes feel hard to access. Life sure does have a way of stealing the joy out of our soul at times, doesn’t it. You’re not alone in this.
Brené Brown (professor and author) shares a thought-provoking concept surrounding joy, stating it is one of the most vulnerable human emotions. She explains that “we are so afraid that if we allow ourself to feel joy, something will come along and rip it from us, leaving us sucker punched by pain, shame, and fear. So in the middle of great joy, we dress-rehearse tragedy.”
I’ve definitely found myself in seasons of dress-rehearsing tragedy in the middle of joyful moments. Rehearsing tragedy for me has sounded like:
“I don’t want to get my hopes up; things may fall apart.”
“Will I ever feel joy to this level again?”
“Reality always comes back. This won’t last forever.”
“Things are going well now, but it’s only a matter of time.”
“I can enjoy this moment later, but right now I need to focus on…”
I can reflect on moments I’ve contained or minimized experiencing joy out of fear that hardships and troubles are around the corner. Or in seasons where everything has felt so heavy, I’ve dismissed fully experiencing the joyful moments because the difficulties of life felt bigger than the joy I could experience.
Can I encourage you today by sharing some incredible news? Joy is a gift from the Lord, which means we have continual access to joy in our lives through him. Here are three tips to experiencing renewed joy:
1. Find joy in the small moments. Maybe you’ll find it in smelling of a fresh cup of coffee, singing songs in the car with your kids, watching a beautiful sunrise on your morning drive, or eating dessert first. Joy is often found in the present moments, so engage fully with your surrounding and with the people in your life. Don’t pass up on the meaningful moments throughout your day that can elevate your soul!
2. Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude! Thankfulness fuels joy! A thankful posture can uplift our spirit. Even on our hardest day, we can experience joy by remaining rooted in gratitude. Write down things you are thankful for, and experience how gratitude can renew your joy. “Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
3. Don’t delay joy. Joy, especially the joy that comes from God, is an ongoing gift—not something that needs to be reserved for a later time. Release yourself from the pressure or expectation that everything should be aligned before you can allow yourself to experience joy. There is joy to be found even amid the messiness of life. Joy is available to you right now; the joy of the Lord does not end!
I hope you experience a renewed joy today.
