The Art of Joy

Dr. GreGory Wendell reminded us that joy is not something we have to postpone until every problem is solved. Joy can be created right where we are—one “now” at a time.

Sometimes we leave a painful situation physically but continue living there emotionally. We replay what happened, what was said, what we lost, and how deeply it hurt. Without realizing it, we can turn our pain into the centerpiece of our lives.

But the art of joy is not pretending that nothing happened. It is remembering what happened without forgetting what God did.

We may remember the fire, but we must also remember that God brought us out. We may remember the tears, but we can also thank Him for the comfort. We may remember the doors that closed while celebrating the doors He later opened.

Pain can even train us to remain on alert after the danger has passed. When someone has survived disappointment for a long time, peace may feel unfamiliar and hope may make them nervous. Yet the same heart that learned how to survive hardship can learn how to live in freedom.

A memory may return, but we do not have to move back into it. A feeling may come, but we do not have to follow it. Our bodies may remember the pain, but our spirits can still know that God has set us free.

Joy lives in the present. As long as God keeps giving us another “now,” we have another opportunity to notice His goodness, receive His peace, and thank Him for how far He has brought us.

What are you choosing to make room for in your life right now?