Finding Joy In The Journey

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What Aladdin Can Teach Us About God

“Do you trust me?” These words spoken by Aladdin in the original Disney movie keep coming to mind. Aladdin urged Jasmine to trust him multiple times in this classic film from my childhood. He asked her to trust as they jumped to safety away from the police. He also encouraged her to trust him and step onto the magic carpet for an adventure of a lifetime. 

Trust is at the core of Christianity. If you have faith in God, you trust Him.

When thinking about the spiritual implications of these scenarios in Aladdin (silly) and our relationship with God (serious):

Do we trust God to help us when we’re in trouble? Yes, but let’s be honest about our knee-jerk reactions. He is not the first person we call when we’ve lost our keys or need financial assistance. He is not the first person we run to when we need to vent about a problem. Often we count on God only after all other plans have been exhausted and all other strategies to resolve the problem leave no realistic solution.

Do we trust God to take us on an adventure of a lifetime? Yes and no. Magic carpets aside, following God and trusting Him creates the opportunity to see and do things we could never imagine. 

Do we trust Him when He wants us to leap into something that is unknown but exciting? When we’ve wanted this adventure for a long time, we are ready to jump. What about when it is an unexpected opportunity that we never planned for or even thought we wanted? Will we jump then as well? 

In moments of stress lately, I hear these five words: “Joy, do you trust Me?” It’s easy to say I trust God about life in general. In my line of work, I’m supposed to trust God. Yet, it’s another challenge to trust Him when circumstances overwhelm or when the road twists and turns unexpectedly.

My work with people who suffer intensely forces me to ponder many of the hardest questions about life and God. How do the women I work with trust God after all they’ve experienced? I can’t explain it, but they do. They want to be close to God. They want to pray. They want to sing and spend time in His presence. 

If trust is at the core of following God, how can I encourage myself and those I work with to trust Him more? We build trust in the same ways everyone else does.

  • Time—spending moments with God helps us build trust in Him.
  • Honest sharing—telling Him how we are feeling, thinking, and doing opens the lines of communication.
  • Slowly opening up to God—sharing about the deepest hurts and biggest dreams allows us to grow closer to God and receive healing. 
  • Observing what He does and says—Listening to God through scripture and in times of prayer, watching as He responds to our requests and helps us in our daily lives all develops trust. 

Whatever you are facing in this season, may your trust in God increase exponentially and may  you find the magic carpet moments with God better than you could’ve hoped.

The Secret to Finding Joy: Sickness, Worry, & Gratitude

I was sick the last week and a half—the “doubled-over-in-pain, stick-close-to-the-toilet” type of sick. Miserable and frustrated, the bug lasted longer than I desired during an extra busy work week. Nothing about this scenario was convenient, not even the weight loss. 

Honestly, after several days of agony, worried thoughts began to plague my mind—What if this isn’t just a bug? What if something is really wrong? I was at a low point in my tummy woes. My mind felt scattered, my blood sugar was low and dehydration loomed. Coming to my senses, I drank a lot of water and finally sat before the Lord, consciously acknowledging the worries in my heart. Choosing to go to Him created a moment to listen and receive His peace. Joy and gratitude slowly replaced my fears and frustrations. 

Being in pain and modifying my responsibilities last week gifted me with time to reflect on what happens when life isn’t going the way we’d like. What joy means in daily life, not just in theory, is an important topic for us all. Is there ever a good time for life’s inconveniences or losses?

I firmly believe gratitude is one of the marks of a joy-filled life.  The challenge is when life is shoveling out heaps of unforeseen woes. How can we be grateful when circumstances stink? Thankfully, we can still choose gratitude. 

Gratitude is “the quality of being thankful; a readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness” (New Oxford American Dictionary).  A healthy heart of gratitude does not ignore challenges or pain. However, gratitude does punch worry in the gut, weakening worry’s hold on our thoughts of the future, both the imaginary and the real.

This week, let’s slow down and take a moment to consider what isn’t going well, where we may be disappointed or frustrated. Give that list to the Lord and ask for His help. Listen for His words and receive the peace that we crave. Then, as part of this holy moment with God, may I suggest writing down or verbalizing in prayer the following three areas of gratitude? 

1. Gratitude for what WAS

We are blessed. Sometimes we experience loss before we realize how good we had it. We don’t realize how important our neck was until it is kinked and painful to move. We can and should express thankfulness for what we experienced in the past.

2. Gratitude for what IS 

Even as we walk through normal or abnormal frustrations and challenges, thanking God for our limits is a powerful act of surrender. Sometimes we are sick. Sometimes we have to ask for help. Even amidst the frustrations, there are hundreds of minor and major blessings in our lives, daily conveniences we take for granted. There is always good in every season. Even if it takes a bit more searching to find it, with our antenna up, we will find it. 

3. Gratitude for what WILL BE 

The best part of this life is that we have a future that is bright. If we know the Lord, this life is not the end! Heaven awaits. The best is yet to come. We can rejoice and give thanks for the future we’ve been promised and the joy of being with Him for eternity. It’s coming!!

As you face another day and another week filled with a wide gamut of life experiences, “may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:13). And may you be spared from the horrible stomach bug I experienced!

What is one thing you are thankful for today? Share in the comment section below.

2 Compelling Promises for When the Holidays Aren’t So Happy

“It’s the most wonderful time of the year” as the song goes, until it’s not. 

Whether there is an empty seat at the table, too much financial pressure, a family conflict, a job change, or a big move, life has a way of creating more drama during the holidays. 

At any time of year, we experience a mixture of bitter and sweet, but the holidays seem to accentuate the tartness of life. Tensions are high; expectations are even higher. The story unfolds for each individual uniquely, but the challenges are no less legitimate. Let’s remember that someone else’s intense pain does not mean you don’t have permission to face your own battles, to face your own pain. Stuffing the struggles down will not make them go away. If you do, you are ensuring an explosion or an implosion at a later date, probably detonating sooner than you’d like.

One of my favorite scriptures gives us two encouragements for when the holidays are hard. Don’t gloss over it because of its familiarity. 

Hebrews 13:5b says: “I will never leave you.” In other words, God is saying:

1. “I’m not going anywhere.” 

“I’m with you. You aren’t alone in the joy and in the pain. I am still here whether you feel me or not. I haven’t left you.” – God

Amidst it all, wherever you find yourself, in whatever season of celebration or struggle—He is here. One of my favorite names for God is Emmanuel because it means “God with us.” It’s a simple truth with a force that can change our perspective and bring comfort in the hardest of seasons. He wants to walk with you through this season, not simply help you avoid the pain.

Then Hebrews 13:5b continues: “Nor forsake you.” In other words, God is saying: 

2. “I’m not loosening my grip on you.” 

“I haven’t and I will not abandon you in your time of need—EVER. We are going together into every situation you face and I’m not going to make you handle this on your own.” – God 

Just before this promise, the writer of Hebrews challenges readers to avoid the love of money and to be content with what they have. If any season tempts us in these areas, it’s this time of year. The ads, the movies, the decorations, it’s everywhere! Our focus can be on consuming and accumulating too easily.

When you start thinking of all your have-nots this holiday season, remember His presence brings more than you could imagine. Today, can you take a few moments to ponder the gift of His constant presence in your life, specifically in your current circumstances? He gives freely and abundantly:

  • His immense, unchanging love for you—no matter how much of a brat you can be.
  • His peace that surpasses your understanding of the why’s of life—even though you are prone to anxious thoughts.
  • His joy that gives strength to face another day—no matter how many tears you’ve shed.
  • His compassion that brings comfort—especially on your worst days.

We may be missing something or someone this season, but my prayer is that your Emmanuel, God with YOU, will be your strong, peace-filled refuge. May you bask in the richness of His continual presence in your daily life and receive what He already promised. He will not to loosen His grip on you. 

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

Under the covers, safe in my bed, I found it hard to sleep. The doors were locked, the lights turned off, and my roommate was away for several days. I had the house all to myself. For most of my adult life, this freedom would have been received joyfully. Yet, on the heels of tremendous loss, being alone at night had become a nightmare. I was a grown woman and I was afraid to be at home alone in the dark. I didn’t need someone next to me; I just needed the reassurance that someone else was in the house. The issue wasn’t as much about the darkness as it was about feeling completely and utterly alone. The night would remind me of the pain, of what I no longer had. The night’s reminders felt convincing enough: “See, Joy, it’s true. You are all alone.”

When I would try to sit before the Lord, it was difficult to hear anything. This “dark night of the soul,” as some would call it, was very, very dark. I kept going because that was all I could do. Slowly but surely, I began to hear in my heart the scripture:

“Never will I leave you or forsake you.”

It was only somewhat reassuring at first. Words that used to bring warm fuzzies to my heart seemed closer to an empty promise. Could I really count on God if He’d allowed all this loss to happen? The darkness of being alone felt stronger than these comforting words. This stormy season showed me that parts of my foundation were not “on the rock” (Matt. 7:25). Yet, I began to notice his “never will I leave you” ways pursuing me, restoring my foundation. I couldn’t deny how He was taking care of me in a manner beyond my control. He was there, even in the pain. Life and Jesus taught me that no matter what changed, I could never be alone because He was always there. Often it takes painful circumstances to let this truth settle deep into our hearts. It is a slow, often subtle, work to believe this truth to the core of our being. It’s easy to believe when we have what we want. It’s harder to believe when we don’t. When our foundation is on the rock, life’s circumstances won’t determine our ability to believe His words. Thanks to this painful season, I know more than ever before that I am not alone.

Neither are you, my friend, neither are you.

A “Teen Mom” & Shopping: Caring What People Think

My youngest sister was born when I was in high school. Along with the joy of having a cute baby around the house, I was assigned baby duty quite often. Sometimes I loved it and other times I was a normal teenager who wasn’t thrilled about baby-sitting for free. [My older self thinks, “Smart move, Mom & Dad! Teach your teens responsibility and get free help with childcare!”]

The thing I disliked the most wasn’t a baby hanging on my side or when she cried. It wasn’t even the dirty diapers. It was the whispers. When I went to the store with my baby sister, I got looks. It was clear enough we were related. Onlookers gave away their thoughts with a puzzled stare and the frown that came after. The judgement felt palpable. I wanted to defend myself and explain: “This isn’t my baby! It’s my sister! I’m a good kid!”

I never did.

Now that I’m older, I regret not having some fun with those who incorrectly assumed I was a teen mom. Sadly, I cared far too much about what people who had no importance in my life thought of me. I felt like I needed to defend myself. I did not. I wanted their approval even though it wouldn’t last. There would be someone else who’d walk by and judge me. I’d want their approval too, which would satisfy me until the next person came by and I needed theirs as well. Finding approval in what others think of you is one of the most exhausting pursuits. It will never be enough.

If I could go back in time, I would tell my teenage self to stop stressing about what people think. It’s not worth your time. In the future you’ll have harder battles to fight, ones that hit much closer to home. Start listening to the only voice that matters–God’s–for the approval that you’re designed to crave. Then I’d need to jump back to the present, look in the mirror and tell myself that I still need to stop stressing about what people think. His approval is the only remedy to the incessant need for people’s validation.

At the end of my life, only one voice will matter. Did I do what He wanted or did I do what others wanted? Did I find rest for my weary soul in His acceptance and love or did I run myself ragged pursuing the fickle love and acceptance of others? Life is different than back in high school, but the question still rings true: Whose voice am I listening to?

When “Waiting Patiently” is An Excuse

This post is for the person who has been waiting patiently. Before we go any further, I know there is balance, but some of us have been waiting patiently, too patiently. We’ve labeled it “waiting” when really we’ve been HIDING. We’ve been hoping life will magically roll out the red carpet for our dreams to come true. We’ve been hoping someone will find us and discover that hidden talent or skill set that we want the world to acknowledge and applaud. The problem is we’ve been so shy about it that not many (or does anyone?) know about this desire or gifting.

Questions to ask yourself:

  • What has God called me to be and to do?
  • I can’t be a crazy person and push my way to the front, but am I developing the skill set for this goal, dream or calling?
  • Am I doing everything I can to be the very best at what I want to be, do, become in the current season I am in?

Sometimes our passivity is laziness. Sometimes it’s fear. Sometimes it’s recusing ourselves from any responsibility for life. Sometimes it’s because of bad theology. Our relationship with God is a partnership. We do our part and He does His. His part is so much bigger than ours, but we have a part to play!

Most dreams are not fulfilled in a splitsecond like we’d like, but we can, each one of us, be working towards the God-size dreams we have in our hearts. Waiting is valuable and necessary. What are you doing as you wait for the right doors to open? Are you strengthening your “talent muscles,” growing in humility and integrity, practicing where possible, and increasing your knowledge and experience?

Burying your talent is the opposite of being faithful. Know what you are good at and accept the constructive feedback you receive. Cultivate the gifts you have even as you wait, but please do not hide and mistakenly call it “waiting.”

Bees, Camels & Monkeys: On Trying New Things

I don’t consider myself a very adventurous person. At times I am more aware of the internal struggle than what my life appears to be from the outside looking in. However, in the last six months I’ve hung out with bees, ridden a camel and fed wild monkeys! The truth is that every time I go somewhere new or try something different, there are little nerves that tag along.  Even when it’s something fun, even when it’s something I want to do, there is apprehension, nervousness, or a bit of fear. I don’t know what to expect and a part of me is a little bit scared.

I know I’m not the only one. New circumstances, opportunities, or challenges are scary for many of us.

Too often it’s easier to avoid these feelings and stick with what we know. We try to live in a safe little world we’ve created for ourselves. My life overseas doesn’t allow for this luxury. More recently, I’ve wondered if my life doesn’t allow for this type of prison. I am forced, sometimes propelled, into new opportunities to learn and grow. This newness factor in my life has become somewhat normal now, but the nerves still show up on the regular. Depending on the scenario, it’s because I don’t want to fail or make a mistake. I don’t want to look stupid. Yet, something about this life of new experiences has revealed a thing or two about these nerves, this fear. They are not as strong as I thought or felt they were. As I face my fear and do the new thing that I often don’t want to do, I find another layer of freedom in my life. God is so patient and gracious to give us such gifts. Today I know it’s best to keep going, in spite of the tension in my shoulders, the butterflies in my stomach, or the anxious thoughts. Keep going. More freedom is around the bend when I jump into a new experience. I recognize when the fear stirs, but I don’t let it lead. Thankfully, the more “new” I try, the faster I jump in. Freedom rings and fear falls each time I try something new.

What new experiences or opportunities are stirring up fear in your heart? Who will you allow to win the battle– freedom or fear?