Jet to Joy June: Choosing Joy

In general, it seems that we are a people of reaction. We jump to action or inaction quickly based on an occurrence or event. Something happens that makes us feel a certain way, so we then view the world in that way, which causes us to make decisions based on that view until something else happens to change it.

I can't even count the times I've left my place in a good mood- sunglasses on, a good song playing on the radio, the world as my oyster: an amazing place full of God's grace and mercy- Life is good. Thoughts of hope and goodness filling my mind as I prepare for a good day. Then, suddenly - POP! - the bubble is burst immediately by heavy traffic, erratic drivers (not me, of course) and the rude clock that wants to shove how late I am in my face. Suddenly, life is chore. Nothing is stable. To-do lists to check off, broken relationships and fears flood my mind instead. The world is hard.

Sadly, this picture has been all-to-real in my life. This year has been a little bit different. Well...most of the time. You see, the truth is this: The world really IS hard. There will always be traffic and there will always be hardships. LAME. But the good news is that God has seen it and overcome it already. NOT LAME.

Thanks, Jesus!

I found this really cool Lion King rock that jutted pretty far out into the ocean in Laguna beach the other day. After singing a few rounds of "Ahhhhhh sabenia badadisimamo", I just stood on the rock and stared at the water. I was full of joy. 

 It was kind of a grey day and the water was choppy. The tide was pretty high and the waves crashed right up to the rock on all sides. It occurred to me that I was in the ocean. That I was right in the middle of these turbulent waters, but I was untouched (except maybe by the occasional ocean spray) and I was totally secure as long as I stayed standing on the rock.

It was a cool, real life picture of Truth. 

I guess it's just the circle of life, right?

Our circumstances and emotions change at the drop of a hat and the push of a button. They are inconsistent and, often times, turn out to be liars.  Like the waves, they can be turbulent and choppy. However, if we are standing on the Rock, then we are able to be stable and secure and have joy right in the middle of them. 

The trick is choosing to acknowledge it. I find that I often forget about the Rock and only see the water. Instead of choosing Joy, I'm tricked into actually jumping into the water of my troublesome circumstances a lot of the time. I get rocked and tossed, then somehow claw my way back onto the Rock. I have to purpose myself to choose Joy- to actively choose to focus on God's truth and grace and all that has been done for me. I have to fight for peace. And it's exhausting. But , as time goes by, it seems to get a little easier to get out of the water. It's work, but it's worth it.  Always.

Since it's Jet to Joy June, I encourage you to try to choose joy this month. The next time your mind is overwhelmed with your circumstances and you feel yourself shifting into a low gear, I encourage you to try to choose joy. To focus on even one good thing God has done for you. And repeat it to yourself over and over if you have to. Even if your circumstances stink, you can choose to cling to the rock of Truth and find some joy there. 

Here's a thought to get you started....

Good luck as you Jet to Joy this June.