How to find more Joy in life

     Today I was finally able to sit down and write after what feels like 10 years! It has been crazy in the Purdy house between moving & christmas & work.. basically, none of us have had any time to breathe— Until now, Thank Goodness! We are all moved in, all my Christmas shopping is done, and now I can finally get back into my schedule (because we know how much I love to have an organized schedule). 

     So lately with the craziness of the holiday season, “joy” has been on my mind. We often find joy in the circumstances of life, especially around Christmas. We find joy in shopping, we find joy in Black Friday Deals, we find joy in unwrapping gifts, we find joy in buying gifts, we find joy in so many of life’s circumstances and I promise you when we find our joy in things of this world— it will always leave us wanting more. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m one of the crazy pants at 2 a.m. standing in a 45 minute line to buy six candles (because everyone needs six candles)— I just needed to clarify that I am most certainly not hating on shopping (because it’s one of the things I do best) but I am simply saying that we do not need to find our joy in it. 

Where is real & pure joy found, you ask??

Luke 2:8-1

8 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9 An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord."

       I recently heard a sermon on this exact topic and I honestly don’t remember word for word what he said but it was something like this— 

“Joy is the evidence of His presence. We are to celebrate the goodness of God. When He walks into a room everything changes and you just cannot fake that kind of joy.” 

       Despite what I said earlier about finding joy in so many of life’s circumstances, let’s be honest for a moment, it’s not always that simple— life is hard.  We can turn on the news and hear countless number of bad things going on in the world, it can honestly be extremely hard to find Joy in those moments. But let’s take a look at the book of James.  There is a verse that says “Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds.” That right there is proof that joy has NOTHING to do with circumstances and EVERYTHING to do with how you respond to them. 

        The beauty and the things of this world will no doubt fade, we will get bored of this years gifts, and by next year we will have a whole new wish list. We will also, no doubt,  face trials of many kinds in our lives, BIG & small. Let us find joy & rest, even in those hard moments, knowing that we serve a God that is in control, that loves us, and that wants nothing but the absolute best for His children.  I encourage us to live a life of pure and utter joy that can only be found in Jesus because He is the only thing that will satisfy. 

Have a great week everyone & be joyful & laugh more :) This is the MOST WONDERFUL time of year !