Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trial of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
That small, three letter word is the thing that makes this verse so difficult for me. Because let's be honest: joy comes easy in some things, but in others? It's really freaking hard.
It's hard to count it all joy in times of discouragement. In times of uncertainty. In times of waiting - oh man, as a person who is impatient for the future, this one is probably the worst for me.
It's hard to count it all joy when it feels like life is just punching you in the soul over and over again.
This is a space I've been living in lately, particularly in relation to one area of my life. This intense season of discouragement has surprise me in many ways but the biggest shock, by far, has been the way I've reacted to it. I'd love to be able to tell you the reaction has been in the spirit of the verse cited above but that hasn't been the case. This discouragement has left me feeling sullen at best, guilty at worst.
Guilty, because when I'm struggling with joy, I'm actually struggling with trusting God.
That's a hard thing to admit, but truth's like that sometimes.
So, what's a girl to do?
One of the things I love best about God is that he doesn't play hard to get. He wants to have a relationship with us and supplies us with all the means to do so. In this case, I know the answer lies in going back to the basics: time in prayer and the word, stripping away the distractions and focusing on what I know is true instead of what I'm feeling in the moment.
And in the interim, I've found the easiest way to remember the call to joy in all things is to remember the things in life that bring me joy.
a good book
a relaxing bath
dance classes
yoga
Starbucks drinks
singing loudly in the car
and in church
and in my living room
and just generally, I guess
telling a good story
volunteering for a cause I believe in
talking to my best friend
loving my forever boyfriend well
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
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