Mom Heart Moments #58

This is the day which the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.

YEARS AGO, I began to reflect on what I saw and heard from many precious women all over the world whose lives had been shattered, whose hearts had been hurt, whose pathways had been quite wearisome and hard. I reflected, too, on what I saw in myself.

A few of these women seemed to have a secret delight, a light that came through their eyes and heart and demeanor —the way they valued others, the way they seemed to always picture themselves as givers of life, even in the midst of their own darkness. These few had joy even after many hard years. I wanted what they had, for this joy to be always surging through my own life.

Shouldn’t one who knows Jesus, who is the God who spoke the world into being and created pink sunrises, babies’ sweet chubby hands, rainbows amidst storm clouds, music that invites me to swing and sway, chili and chocolate, have the ability to find a life that is joyous beyond circumstances?

So I determined that joy would be a goal of mine, something I would seek, celebrate, live, and choose every day, desiring that I would hear the music of Him who was singing all the time. I determined to dance to the rhythm of His melody in and through my life. Jesus said, “In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). The simple fact is, in the world we have tribulation. But we also have Jesus, and He has overcome the world. Therefore, we can have joy!

Do you, too, want to be a woman of joy beyond your circumstances? Where can you see the joy hidden in the darkness?