Recently,
I have become even more aware of a growing trend within me. It seems that I am encountering
an unusual amount of disappointment that has been "challenging my joy!" I am not saying that I am purposely trying
to be a pessimist or “looking” for every situation to be where “the glass is
half empty instead of half full.” I am talking about things that are more than
just a misunderstanding when things turn out differently than I expected. It is
missing the mark or out-right failure of meeting the standards that catches my attention.
For
instance, I pay extra for 3-day shipping for an on-line order only for it to arrive
a week later with no apologies or refund. I come into work on my day off in
order to meet with a friend only for them to call at the last minute to say
they can’t make it. I order and pay for a gift on-line and choose for it to be “picked
up at the store” (because it is in stock and I want to surprise someone) only
to get an email stating “we’re sorry, but this item is unavailable!”
We
live in a fallen world. People are human. Things happen that I have no control
over. The only thing I can control
is my response towards these things
that drive me crazy. Nothing can take my happiness unless I allow it to.
Nothing “makes me” angry, cynical or upset. I choose to let it make me this
way. And then, THAT is when it hit me. I caught myself….mostly from the Holy
Spirit’s conviction to stop focusing on these irritations and the disappointments
of life.
Immediately,
the beloved hymn “Joy Unspeakable”
welled up inside me. It is verse four that I like most: “I have found the joy no tongue can tell, how its waves of glory roll;
It is like a great o’erflowing well, springing up within my soul. And the
refrain: It is joy unspeakable and full
of glory, full of glory, full of glory; It is joy unspeakable and full of
glory, oh the half has never yet been told.”
It
is becoming far too easy to dwell on the negative side of things. Things in
life will disappoint us, yet God never will. People will fail me, but God never
will. His eternal and internal joy He gives us as Christians should always be
within us….ready to spring forth like a geyser with gratefulness, praise and thanksgiving
no matter the situation.
Even
when “life happens” and things don’t go according to plan…and even those times I
feel cheated and lose time, money and resources…I can let that go, and find joy
in the situation and at the very least, one or two things I can be thankful
for.
So,
no matter what life throws at you, “in
everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning
you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Overcome the negative with the positives of thankfulness
and gratitude that only a heart filled with joy can do. After all, we need joy,
now, more than ever!