I’d left the ministry and moved three states away, with a marriage unraveling. It was my second job in four months. Being the consummate over explainer, I shared my troubles with my boss. The next morning, when I showed up for work, I was no longer on the schedule.
At that exact moment, it was like someone pressed the pause button on my life. I stood frozen, looking at the schedule–without my name on it–and prayed, “Lord, what now?”
My prayer was immediately answered with a sense of deep calm, an assurance that my life was still in God’s hands. Despite the circumstances, I was able to work my entire shift–like it was any other day. The boss called me in at closing time, marveling at the poise with which I’d faced uncertainty. I told her it was the Joy of Lord. She put me back on the schedule.
Perhaps you can relate? You’ve stood before, back to the wall, with limited options. But rather than running away you stayed put, empowered by the Holy Spirit. At such times we can choose joy, but can’t produce it. This brand of eternal confidence only comes from God (Galatians 5:22).
Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.
Colin Powell
King David calls it a mega-multiplier:
You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)
It was a recent post, What if Joy? on Praise2worshipdotnet, that jogged my memory about the power of genuine joy. Pastor Pete shared an inspiring thought: the Joy of the Lord is a good escape plan. Believers under its power can face whatever God has for them with confidence. (Think Paul and Silas singing in prison or Christ facing the cross).
On this Christmas Day may we pause for joy, like the shepherds out in the fields on the night of Christ’s birth, scared half to death by a visiting angel.😇
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.”
Luke 2:10 (NIV)
Davids Daily Dose 
Comments
44 responses to “⏸ for Joy”
Thanks, brother. I often need to remember to look for the joy too. Life sometimes surprises me, with it harsh realities, and I find my faith wavering. It’s a good thing God’s love is constant! I appreciate your stopping by, Rainer. God Bless!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great read, David. I can only imagine how disheartening it must have felt to spill your guts to your boss and then come in the next day to learn you no longer had a job. That feels like adultery of another kind—some violation of one human of another. I love the Colin Powell quote. I had to read it a few times and let it sink in. Thankful for the storms Christ has seen us through. When I focus on the joy the Lord brings me my attitude changes immediately. I need to remember to do that more often during trying times throughout the day. Blessings.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m glad you enjoyed the post, Dawn. What amazes me about the Joy of the Lord is how it’s not something we can manufacture on our own. It is a gift if the Holy Spirit. Thank you for your comment. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Wow! Joy changes things. People see the difference in us and it makes a difference in their lives. Thanks for sharing this David. It’s inspiring.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen, Nancy! Thank you for sharing that committing scripture verses to memory and reciting them is a powerful weapon when we aren’t sure what to think, say or do. It’s easier to choose joy when we fill our minds with godly thoughts. I’m glad for your thoughtful input. I hope you have a blessed New Year. 🙏❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen–choose joy! It’s a matter of turning thoughts toward God, his glorious attributes, his amazing works and wonders of the past, as well as his generous blessings right now–even if our backs are to the wall. Sometimes negative thoughts fight hard for front and center attention; we have to fight harder to replace them with the positive. Scripture is our best weapon!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s so wonderful being inspired by what others say here on Word Press. Pastor Pete often gets me thinking, as do you, Beth! I hope your family, all the doggies too, had a great Christmas as well. Happy New Year to the Alisan family! 🐾🐾
LikeLiked by 1 person
A beautiful testimony David and I love how it is a follow up to Pastor Pete’s post. I had to think of For King and Country’s song “Joy” and the opening line of the chorus “And I choose joy.” I hope you and your family had a lovely Christmas.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Andy. I will check back in with Berry Bunch blog soon. I appreciate your encouraging words! Blessings.
LikeLike
Thanks David. It’s so very encouraging to read truth, and God’s faithfulness in action!
With our newish Marriage Matters podcast, while we’re careful, we also want to talk about real life struggles (covid stopped It for a bit, then my health issues, then Christmas and now nearly moving house…..we’ll be back to it, full on, come February)
Privacy can be wise. But, sometimes, it’s the mistakes or the things that have gone wrong that can teach us, and others, the most.
And you can’t argue with a testimony!!
Blessings. Keep on keeping on for Jesus 🙂
LikeLike
I’m grateful for your input, Andy. If telling on myself helps others, then I shall keep right on doing it–as long as folk will listen.☺️ The credit is God’s anyway. I just reached out and grabbed the life-line. Blessings to the Berry Bunch!
LikeLike
Thanks for your honesty. It’s refreshing and powerful.
Thank you
And yes, we all need moments to rest and pause!!
Andy B
LikeLiked by 1 person
You said it better than I did, Craig. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. You’re right, God’s joy can spring up at the most unlikely times and places. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pause for joy. What a wonderfully simple summary of a blessed strategy for facing our neverending trials and difficulties. I will be putting this into practice myself. Brings to mind “Be still and know that I am God.” Therein is the secret. When once we let our soul behold our Lord and remember His love and His Almighty power, joy springs up unbidden, like the crocus sprout and bloom right through the snow at the sun’s first warming.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true. As a person who lives with chronic illness, you know this first hand. Some of God’s greatest friends are too sick and/or tired to do the amazing things they do. It is God’s strength that makes their good deeds possible. Thank you for your comment, Matt. I’m working on drinking a pot of freshly brewed coffee, right now, in your honor.😄
LikeLike
His glory is revealed in our times of weakness as we seek him.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Alan. The challenge for me is to get quiet enough, or to be still enough, to know the Holy Spirit’s leading. The fruit is there, but it’s not always low hanging. I am always grateful for your insightful input. God’s best to you, Susan and family.🙏❤️
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very true, sometimes the hard choice in life is choosing joy in the Lord, but boy is it fruitful! Thank you David, God bless you brother.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes. Little is much when God is in it. Thank you for sharing your thoughts. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
I can relate to so much here. Truly, the joy of the Lord is our strength … especially when our strength is small.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen. God’s best to you too!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You are most welcome, Kathlyn!Thank you for reading and commenting. God’s best to you this Christmas season.
LikeLike
A lovely message of the power of joy. Thank you.
LikeLiked by 1 person
How true, Crystal. God takes care of the big AND the little things. Blessings!
LikeLiked by 1 person
A reminder that escape plans are not in our hands. To think how Baby Jesus needed an immediate escape, with Herod’s decree, and how God provided a safe route and home in Egypt, gold, frankincense, and myrrh for trading in a foreign land.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Manette Kay. You’re the second commenter to mention this verse from Psalm 118! Joy is indeed a choice, not always an easy one, but ours to choose in the Lord. A blessed Christmas to you and yours!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Your actions exemplified Psalm 118:24. You intentionally chose joy. Then God honored your choice. Thanks, for the reminder we need to choose joy each day.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Simply B! I so appreciate your reading and commenting. May you, and yours, have a Merry Christmas as well.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So good, so encouraging. Perfect for a Christmas message in a world that truly struggles to define and embrace real joy. Merry Christmas and God bless you and yours today!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Manu. “Fretting over something” is a daily temptation for me! A wonderful Christmas to you as well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such an encouraging message David. It was a reminder I needed as I was just sitting and fretting over something. Thankyou for this message.
A wonderful Christmas to you and your family.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Betty. There are plenty of reasons to be fearful these days, but one good reason not to: God is with us! Thank you for stopping by on this Christmas Day. Blessings to you, Dan, and family! “God Bless us, every one,” as Tiny Tim said. Come to think of it, a picture with Tiny Tim standing next to Dan would be a study in contrast.😀 But the pic with the ghost of Jacob Marley was pretty cool!
LikeLike
David, what an empowering message in these most uncertain times! With this focus on our faith, we can go forward without fear. Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you. The Joy of the Lord is available, but I often must get myself in the right frame of mind to accept it. I appreciate your checking out my little blog. I shall return the favor. Blessings, and Merry Christmas.
LikeLike
Thanks, Pete. I tried to take the ball and run with it on this post about godly joy. It was your post that got me started.
Shepherds frightened half to death sounds like a line from one of your poems!
Have a blessed Christmas in sunny Florida. ☀️
LikeLike
Choose joy! How perfect for Christmas! Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Amen.Thanks a lot for sharing such a strong bond with the mighty one.🙏🌲
LikeLiked by 1 person
I say that same verse every day when I wake up, usually before my feet hit the floor. The Holy Spirit’s kind of joy is sometimes hard to come by, but it’s always available. Blessings to you and yours this Christmas. Thanks, brother!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Barb. Merry Christmas to you as well!
LikeLike
God has been right there with me through many troubles. I trust it is the same with you. I do not always understand His ways, but always feel His love and care. Merry Christmas to you as well! Blessings.
LikeLike
Merry Christmas Dave. Wonderful post and I especially love the picture of the shepherds scared half to death by the angel and yet still given joy. Blessings to you and yours
LikeLike
I loved the line, “we can choose joy, but can’t produce it.” There are definitely days and times where that is true.
I like to quote, “This is the day the Lord has made. I WILL rejoice and BE glad in it!” I have to close it every day.
Merry Christmas!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful Truth — Merry Christmas my friend.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Glad to know that the Lord has been a source of refuge and has sorted out your problem.Thank you very much for sharing how the Lord has been a constant source of joy .Wish you a Merry Christmas.God bless.Take care.🙏🌲
LikeLiked by 1 person