Joy

I don't know about you but, when I have a ton to do, I like to make lists! And recently I have gotten some good practice at that. Now the main reason for my love of lists is; I get to cross things off my list...it makes me feel like I'm getting something done--and normally that's the case. But do you ever have those days where the to-do list is super long and then something else comes up that you have to do but isn't on the original list and then it takes the rest of the day to finish? So when you finally look at your list at the end of the day it seems like nothing as been accomplished!

Now maybe you're smarter then me, and add that specific responsibility to your list, that way you can cross it off and feel like you're getting something done. Or maybe you're the type of person that doesn't do lists at all and are thinking "why in the world is she doing a whole blog post about lists? She must be crazy!" (And you're not going to tell me that the last statement hasn't ever crossed your mind:)

But the point of this post is not to ramble on about lists, or to make an excuse for not blogging.

This is a busy season of life. Now maybe you have lots of free time and don't ever feel overwhelmed, and if that's the case you can stop reading. But the majority of people I have talked to are busy. Life is full. And it's full of good things. Things that God has given us to do. Yet in the midst of these responsibilities and long lists I tend to find myself feeling discouraged, overwhelmed, bogged down...etc.

One morning last week I was feeling particularly overwhelmed and God gave me this verse;

"You turned my wailing into dancing; You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give You thanks forever." Psalm 30:11-12

It is God who gives joy! We don't get it from sleeping in, spending time with friends or crossing things off our lists, we get our joy from the Lord. Let me rephrase that. We get true, lasting and satisfying joy from our Lord. Joy that will allow us to sing in the midst of stressful day. Joy that puts a smile on our on face when things don't go as planned.

So if you are feeling stressed, overwhelmed, discouraged, tired..whatever it might, stop a minute come before the Lord. Allow Him to clothe you with joy that you may sing unto Him. Don't let busyness disrupt a heart of worship to your King. Don't let your circumstances rob you of the joy the Lord has for you.

The Lord also encouraged me with this verse from a friend;

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.

Wait on the LORD; Be of good courage, And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD!