JOY IN THE ORDINARY

Here’s the truth: I did not feel inspired to write this blog. Usually, I do. I’m a pretty passionate person in general (especially about football). But I couldn’t seem to work up passion for… well, much of anything. My life is in a good place and my mental health is better than it has been in a long time. I’m struggling with my grief and loneliness at the holidays, like so many do, but mostly everything is… fine. Kind of.

“Well, that’s nice,” you say after walking out of a grueling exam, maybe to go binge Netflix finally or maybe to head to work for another shift at a job you despise. “Glad everything is going so well. Merry Christmas to you.” I hear that bitter hurt in your voice, because man, I have been there. I am there. I don’t know what you are facing this holiday season. I don’t know if you are sitting in a room full of family or home alone for another year, watching every girl you know get an engagement ring or post a cute picture with her boyfriend and her dog. It’s really easy to be bitter when that isn’t happening for you. It’s so easy to yell at God when *that girl* (you saw her face just now, didn’t you) gets the ring you wanted or the guy you wanted or… Maybe on the surface everything is… fine… but nothing is going at all like you planned.

I recently read a devotion from Pocket Fuel and it talked about finding joy in the ordinary. So often we live for the next BIG THING: the concert, the game, the spouse in the future, or the new job. This will definitely make us happy. If we can just get THIS, we will be content. We plan and plot and scratch down every detail wanting it to fulfill us. And it does for a little bit. We get to that day and every moment of it is meaningful. Those days matter and we cherish every second. But once the clock strikes 12 and Cinderella loses the glass slipper, all that joy fades away. It’s a waiting game until the next moment that will definitely, 100%, absolutely bring us joy. There are more every day moments than big events, and we are missing them by dwelling on the next thing. Our joy is rooted in fleeting things, and if we aren’t careful, our thirst for experiences and the next momentary high will distract us from our purpose.

I won’t tell you to fast Instagram over Christmas so you don’t see all the new sparkly rings or new toys you wish you had money for, but just don’t right now. I will tell you to spend more time asking God to be the source of your joy on a Wednesday at 3PM during exam week when you have to go home and clean your kitchen instead of nap. I will tell you that JOY is not based in circumstances or events, but in the hope of Jesus Christ. His birth was for the redemption of the world, the security of our souls, for peace and joy to all men. If you are struggling with joy, don’t feel guilty. Reach out. Talk to a friend you trust. Make time to sit with your feelings and understand the issue you are facing. If you are struggling with depression, you are not alone. The holidays are tough and sometimes isolating. Reach out. You are loved and needed and cherished.

At the end of the day, we are all fighting for joy. Fighting against riding the wave of the next experience, fighting to enjoy Tuesday nights alone with cold sandwiches when we are trying to save money and all our friends are out eating mexican food. We are all fighting, and we need each other.

Don’t buy the lies social media is selling. Choose joy. Choose peace. Jesus over everything.

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” ‭Isaiah‬ ‭9:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.” ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:10-11‬ ‭NIV‬‬