Joy — Philippians 4 – Wednesday
TODAY’S VERSE
Philippians 4:6-7
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (ESV)
I don’t know if you’ve ever seen the animated movies Inside Out and Inside Out 2, but if you have younger kids, chances are you have. I have watched these movies multiple times, and I love the second one the most because it hits home on a very personal level.
Here’s a quick synopsis of Inside Out 2. A girl named Riley is going through everyday life as a normal teenager: the highs and lows, the successes and struggles, the silver-linings and letdowns. Her normal feelings of joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust are now made even more complex by adding boredom, envy, embarrassment, and anxiety. All of these emotions are represented by a character and in this particular movie, Anxiety and Joy butt heads because they are in a constant battle of who is going to take over in Riley’s life and control every one of her actions.
Anxiety. I almost hate to say that word because it is so overused and misused. I was diagnosed with anxiety when I was in my early 30s. I had known that something was wrong my whole life, but never understood what my emotions were doing to my body and to my mind. The upset stomach, the racing heart, the exhaustion, and the uncontrollable worry were overshadowing the joy that God was trying over and over to give me.
The joy of the Lord is not the same as happiness. (There’s a reason the main character of Inside Out is not named Happiness). Happiness depends on our circumstances. Joy comes from knowing that God is with us, loves us, and is working for our good even when life feels difficult.
When Paul writes, “do not be anxious about anything,” I want to roll my eyes and say, you obviously don’t understand! But he goes on to explain how we can sit back and abide in the One who produces limitless joy and all of a sudden, I’m listening.
There are seasons when we feel exhausted, discouraged, or overwhelmed. We may not feel strong enough to face another day. But thank goodness God's strength is not dependent on our ability! He is the Vine, and we are the branches.
APPLICATION
There is nothing that brings me more joy than hearing my kids sing their hearts out to worship music. Make it a priority to listen only to worship music this week and see how much better you feel when your joy isn't drowned out by noise.
Need some ideas? Check out Southland’s worship playlists!
PRAYER
Father, thank You for being my source of strength and joy. So often I allow my circumstances, worries, and responsibilities to determine how I feel, but today I choose to focus on You. Thank You for Your faithfulness, Your mercy, and Your constant presence in my life. Amen.