Joy. So wonderful and free-flowing. Yesterday, I had a day off. It was nice. However, my first impulse was to accomplish a million projects at home. To "do" and not to just"be." I have a day off and I figured I could accomplish so much. Pushing, pushing, always pushing. Pushing is a way of life for me. I'm addicted to adrenaline and I'm always working on something.
The problem is when you live that way, it is real hard to find deeper joy in your life. When you are pushing so hard, you don't really see the beauty around you or the people that are needing your heart. You don't sense the pace God intends for you or the abundant life he desires for you. Joy is something you then battle for on an over-stimulated schedule.
It says in the bible, the "Joy of the Lord is our strength." (Nehemiah 8:10) Maybe the Joy is to just be still or to listen to God's voice for your life. Maybe the Joy is to stop doing and put down your tools, your pen, your mouse, your task list. Maybe the Joy is to stop achieving, stop clicking, and stop trying to please. To start finding and receiving joy.
So, yesterday, I stopped the to-do-list, the never ending weeding in the garden, and found the two younger boys. I decided to delve into some spontaneous joy. "Boys, let's jump into the freezing pool!" I jumped first, then they followed. For the next few hours joy exuded into us as we were splashing, jumping, and laughing in a 65 degree pool. I was pleasantly surprised by this Joy, and that joy from the Lord carried us the rest of the day. That joy, from the Lord, sustains us, and is our strength.
No comments:
Post a Comment