Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12 (ESV)
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13 (ESV)
During this holiday season, as we are about to bring in a new year, one can become caught up in the joyful celebrations that seem to be ongoing all around. However, even though some are experiencing happy, joyful times, there are others who are experiencing pain, sorrow, and loss. In a devotional article I read recently, a woman went to comfort a friend who recently lost a loved one who had died. In checking on her friend and asking how she was doing, she responded: “It’s hard but, I choose joy despite it all”.
There are times when the feelings of joyfulness and happiness are easy because everything is going as planned. But how does one choose joy when they don’t have those feelings? When in fact everything is not going as planned and the feelings are actually the very opposite? In order to have God’s joy at that moment, one has to intellectually make a choice to be joyful, to be grateful, to be content. Not saying when you choose to have joy that everything around you and, in the world, is going the way you would like. More often than not, things will not be going the way you would prefer. Not only in your life but also in the lives of others. It is during this time as God’s children, we need to reach out to do what we can to render help and assistance, for whomever God places on our hearts. But ultimately, despite pain and heartaches of various degrees, we must choose to have faith and belief that God is in control. We need to ultimately learn to choose His peace, His contentment, and His joy, as we navigate life.
So, as we embark on the new year of 2024, may we choose daily to have love, humility, patience, and joy, as we look to share God’s messages of love, faith, and hope that the world so desperately needs.
May you have a blessed and joyful 2024!
Happy New Year!
Blessings,
Angélique
To contact: Angelique@21stcenturygodlyliving.com