Choose
Joy
By Karen D’Amore
“…whenever troubles
come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For when your faith is
tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”
James
1:2 (NLT)
My
affection for words has spurred a growing collection of jewelry inscribed with
my favorite words. Aware of my collection and love of
words, a friend recently gave me a necklace inscribed with the word “JOY.” Though
I absolutely LOVE the necklace… “Joy” was not in my repertoire of favorite words.
Within
the month following receipt of this beloved gift, the word “joy” began popping
up everywhere. From random Facebook posts to songs, sermons, emails,
billboards and Bible studies. I found myself immersed in a joy-themed arena.
Initially, I didn’t give it much thought until the immersion transitioned into a
ridiculous (almost comical) saturation. In hindsight, I should have recognized
God’s presence in the “joy”-themed saturation. Was there a message to be
gleaned? Was He preparing me for something?
I
was wearing the “JOY” necklace when the trial struck. Fixating on the troubling
circumstances, I re-hashed the details until the trial eventually stole my joy!
Defeated, I chose seclusion and isolation. In the midst of that seclusion, God
- - in His innate tenderness - - diverted my focus from my circumstances to His
manifestations of tranquility. Just beyond my bedroom window, in the quiet of
the soft falling snow, a herd of deer lay peacefully bedded down. As I was entranced
by the embodiment of serenity, God used the distraction to uplift and encourage
my aching heart. Moments later, I read a Facebook post with a wooden sign
bearing the inscription… “Choose Joy!”
While
I fixated on my joy-robbing circumstances, God reminded me of His goodness. In the
verse above, Paul writes that trials could either become an obstacle or an
“opportunity for great joy.” With my favorite word being “faith,” I was reminded trials are
opportunities for faith-testing and endurance-growing. Once I stopped dwelling
on my circumstances and meditated on God’s faith-building process, I worked to
“Choose Joy!”
In
this life we will face trials, each holding the potential to be joy-robbers or
joy-growers… the choice is ours! Will you
choose to worry or worship? The source
on which we fixate influences our choices. “If there is any virtue and anything
praise worthy - - meditate on these things” (Philippians 4:8b, NASB). Let’s meditate
on God’s praise worthy virtues and…“Choose JOY!”
“Choosing JOY is being able to see God’s
goodness even when life is hard and messy!” [1]
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
What’s affecting your ability to be joyful?
2.
Where’s your focus?
FURTHER
READING:
Married to Dan,
Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at Craig Berns
Salon and Foot Care Specialist at Shorehaven Senior Facility. She’s on the
Oakwood Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team.
