Joy — Philippians 1 – Monday
TODAY’S VERSE
Philippians 1:18b-20
…Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ … I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (ESV)
Two years ago, I was able to take a month-long sabbatical from my ministry role at Southland. In the months leading up to this glorious season of rest, my wife and I started making plans for where we were going to go on vacation. We hadn’t gone anywhere without the kids since they’d been born, so we were super excited. We finally chose San Antonio as the destination and began counting down the days.
Exactly a week before my sabbatical, two things happened. First, a routine blood test came back with questionable results for our daughter Emme. (She has a history of autoimmune diseases.) Secondly, my wife Arianne discovered a lump, and a follow-up mammogram showed some concerning areas.
I’d love to say I immediately turned to God and began thanking him for the times He’s shown up over and over. I’d love to say I immediately chose joy. Instead, I took a left turn at joy and chose anger and anxiety. I allowed my mind to go down dark paths of uncertainty and worst-case scenarios. Over and over, I dwelled on the “what-ifs.”
At the end of the road of anxiety, I chose anger. I was angry that my one season of rest was ruined by two huge unknowns. I was angry that my joy was stolen from me during a season I had been looking forward to for months.
But thankfully, I have an amazing wife. In a season when I was physically, spiritually, and emotionally tired, she chose to pursue joy. She told me we were starting prayer walks around our neighborhood each morning. So daily for a month straight, we walked and prayed. Slowly, something changed. I still didn’t know what the journey forward would look like, but I was able to be joyful knowing that God had it under control. He loved me. He loved my family. And He is the source of joy!
Over the course of the next few months, Arianne had surgery, which took care of everything. Emme’s follow-up tests showed an error in the initial blood test.
I’m a stubbornly slow learner, so I know a time will come in the near future when I will, once again, need my wife to show me how to choose joy. But that season showed me that I can pursue joy even when circumstances don’t naturally lead there on their own. I can pursue joy because I know the Creator of joy!
APPLICATION
What things in your life are stealing your joy? Acknowledge when you give something the authority to steal that joy. Commit this week to a daily time of prayer. Commit to a prayer walk. Spend that time just talking to Jesus. Share your concerns, but then allow Him to take those concerns.
PRAYER
Jesus, thank You for being the source of true joy, even in seasons of uncertainty. Forgive me for the times I allow fear, anxiety, anger, or circumstances to steal my focus from You. Teach me to trust You more deeply and to remember that You are always faithful, even when life feels overwhelming. Help me pursue joy daily, not because everything is easy, but because You are good and You are near. Give me peace in the unknown and courage to place every burden into Your hands. Amen.