Reclaiming Joy
Psalms 94:19
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Does anxiety ever steal your joy? I know I certainly have experienced this phenomenon. Sunday night solitude is sometimes lost because I am anxious about what Monday holds. Mid week of a family vacation is hijacked because I look at a work email and begin to spiral. It is normal to wonder what the future holds and at times, we certainly need to prepare ourselves for what lies ahead. But, sometimes the joy of the moment is the fuel we need to make it to tomorrow.
My youngest child is 10, and she is a mama’s girl. Every morning, we have a ritual of snuggling and chatting for a few minutes before we turn on the lights and start the day. I would like to say that every day I soak up each moment of this experience, but that would not be true. This is sometimes one of those situations where fear and anxiety rob me of my joy. Rapid fire thoughts assault my brain, ranging from, “she’s growing up, and this won’t last much longer,” to, “I’m wasting time; I need to pack her lunch.” But, sometimes I catch myself. I allow myself to listen to the still, small voice that knows another hug is actually what I need, and I tell my brain that all of the other stuff can wait. I allow myself to linger.I am consoled by little arms squeezing my neck, and as the sleep falls away, I reclaim the joy of the moment. No matter what my day holds, I know I’m ready to face it.
God finds many ways to soothe our troubled hearts and minds. In this passage, I believe we are reminded that our worries find solace in joy.. There will always be something to worry about. The future will remain unknown, uncertain and full of anxious anticipation. Don’t let the busyness of life and the fear of the unknown rob you of your joy. If your thoughts are racing away from the joy at hand, stop and listen. Allow God to console you and call you back to the moment. Reclaim your joy and with it, energy for what lies ahead.
This devotion was written and read by Edha Meadows-Brown.
Grace for All is a daily devotional podcast produced by the members of the congregation of First United Methodist Church in Maryville, Tennessee. With these devotionals, we want to remind listeners on a daily basis of the love and grace that God extends to all human beings, no matter their location, status, or condition in life.
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First United Methodist Church is a lively, spirit-filled congregation whose goal is to spread the message of love and grace into our community and throughout the world. We are located on the web at https://1stchurch.org/.
