Enduring Joy

As some of you know, I am major Fixer-Upper fan. It isn’t just the fact that Chip and Joanna Gaines flip old, run-down houses into something beautiful; their joyful spirits are contagious. Which is what led me to read their book, The Magnolia Story, while on my family vacay to St. George Island.

I don’t know if it was the quiet God-made canvas of the ocean, the fellowship with my family, or this book of encouragement, but God was whispering a new truth to me. Or an old truth I was listening to for the first time.

In the book, Chip and Joanna talk about the various trials before their success with the show. She discusses that in the trials they would ask themselves if they were “thriving or surviving” that time in their life.

It was such a blessing to find myself thriving in the middle of the pain. Unless you find a way to do that, there's always going to be this fake illusion that once you get there--wherever "there" is for you--you'll be happy. But that's just not life. If you can't find happiness in the ugliness, you're not going to find it in beauty, either.”

-Joanna Gaines

I started to ask myself and my husband these hard questions. Have I been surviving this time, gritting through with bitter discontentment? Or have I really been thriving in a joyous manner that is present-filled?

After vacation, this truth still kept resonating with me. Last Sunday, I went to a church in East Tennessee called Crossroads.  The pastor posed the question, “Did Jesus want to go to the cross?” Woah.

He then shared the verse, Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Jesus was about to go to the cross. He was going to encounter physical and emotional pain, from being beaten to hell, separation from God.  Yet, He found a way to endure with joy.

When I got back from the weekend trip, I was reading my devotional by Ann Voskamp and this was what I read…

“Fullness of joy is discovered only in the emptying of will.” -Ann Voskamp

And Jesus did just that. He said, “Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.”-Luke 22:42

Choose Joy- such a popular phrase that people just throw out there. But how? How do we choose this joy? How did Jesus choose joy with the cross ahead of him?

Well here are 3 things that I found that helps give me joy in these circumstances:

1)  Give Thanks Always

“And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

-Luke 22:19

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.”

-Phil. 4:8

I have to constantly think of reasons to be thankful in order to have this joy.

“As long as thanks is possible, then joy is always possible.” - Ann Voskamp

2)  Be Content

Set things in perspective- which is knowing our part of the big story that God is writing. The God of the universe came down and while we were sinners he died for us so that we may live through him. I have to preach the gospel to myself to have this joy. I have to remember scripture.

3)  Pray

“Prayer is both conversation and encounter with God. . . . We must know the awe of praising his glory, the intimacy of finding his grace, and the struggle of asking his help, all of which can lead us to know the spiritual reality of his presence.” –Tim Keller, Prayer

Thanksgiving, intimacy, and supplication.

All leading to being in His presence- a joyous place to be.

My birthday is coming up this next week. I was diagnosed around this time last year. What a year 23 has been! As you can tell this year wrapping up has led to many reflections. I have “endured” this year. Bearing the pain and the waiting. But have I endured with joy? I hope this next year I do just that. Enduring means lasting. I hope we all keep finding this enduring joy.