Fighting For Joy
I was catching up with a friend the other day, and I brought up how I had been fighting for joy over the past 40 days. Have you been there? I think it is safe to say we all have during our quarantine experience at some point. I would wake up each day either reading scripture or listening to it while walking Willi, and yet, still feel so distant from God and feel His distance towards me. "Was it something I wasn't doing?" I would ask myself and honestly just start talking out loud to Him on my walks.
The truth is, ugly parts of my flesh were revealed on those walks and my need for Him and His grace increased even more. What I found was this: God never leaves His beloved. Sometimes, He's just quiet and when this happens faith MUST increase and joy MUST be fought for.
How do we fight for joy?
In this blog, I am going to share three ways I actively fight for joy in my life and three things that make me feel more joy filled during this season.
Joy is something that comes natural to my personality type, but at some point, we all have to fight the good fight. The truth is, life is messy, hard, unpredictable, and scary at times but instead of losing our heart or forsaking the spirit that is inside of all of us, we must fight!
How I fight for joy in my life:
Pray, pray, pray! Sister, spill out your heart to God. Write it in your journal or speak it on your walks but be so brutally honest with Him. He can take it. Actually, that's what He wants to do. He wants to take it and transform it into faith.
Get in the word! This may sound like a "Sunday school" answer, but His word is living and breathing. Here's my secret: if you do step 1, no matter what day it is and if I have read that same passage or chapter a 100 times, after I spill out my heart in a brutally honest way, His word applies to my circumstance every single time. It gives my longing soul peace in a way I cannot explain and my faith increases.
He did it then, He can do it today! Another reason I love to read the word is, because I love the radical stories of our God. If He can part the Jordan and dry the ground for the Israelites to walk on so they don't ruin their sandals, what makes you think He doesn't care about the intricate details of the everyday part of our lives? If He can take five loaves and two fish and feed thousands of people, what makes you think He won't provide for you? MY FAITH INSTANTLY INCREASES! If He did it then, then He can do it today.
You see, when we fight for joy, our faith increases, because He is where joy is found. And, when I go looking for joy, I always find more faith.
"On the day the Lord gave the Amorites over to Israel, Joshua said to the Lord in the presence of Israel: “Sun, stand still over Gibeon, and you, moon, over the Valley of Aijalon.” So the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, till the nation avenged itself on its enemies. There has never been a day like it before or since, when the Lord listened to a human being. Surely the Lord was fighting for Israel!" -- Joshua 10:1-15
I read this verse and my heart just melts. I love how God hears our prayers. He may not answer in the way we are hoping or expecting, but He is always listening and He is always answering.
Feeling is different than knowing. I know my JOY is rooted in something bigger than me even if I cannot FEEL it in this moment or season of life. Friends, not only understanding this but applying it to our everyday lives is freeing. We cannot base our knowing on our feeling, because feelings are fleeting but what I know to be true never leaves me.
What makes me feel more joy filled during this season of life?
Quality time with my Willi girl! As all of you know by now, I have a golden doodle and she is just so much fun. She instantly makes everything so much more FUN and snuggly when I need it most. Our evening walks, early morning cuddles, or afternoon play time, makes me feel so joyful.
Moving my body in a way that feel good! Quarantine has been good to me and my creative spirit. I just launched a fitness subscription that is all about making fitness FUN while lengthening, strengthening, and toning the female body within her monthly cycle. Whether it’s dance cardio or sculpt, I love to feel good when I work out, and I would love to have you join me!
Cooking in the kitchen! When I am creating recipes in the kitchen, I come alive! I personally enjoy turning up the music, pouring myself a glass of red wine, and creating healthy yet fun recipes that speak to my current mood.
Now it is your turn! I want to hear from you by either commenting on this blog or sending me an instagram DM in how you fight for joy and what makes you more joy filled during a season that is a little more tough and stressful!
Love to you all, as I hope this encourages you to fight the good fight and enjoy what feels good in this current season of life.
XX— Liv