How To Choose Joy When You Don’t Feel It

Hey there, friends! Today, I want to share something that’s been on my mind lately; how to choose joy when you don’t feel it, especially during those frustrating times when it feels almost impossible. The Holy Spirit has been helping me along this particular journey. I hope that sharing the thoughts He has given me, will inspire you as it has me. 

Spiritual Definition of Joy

First, let’s talk about what joy means. It’s an inner peace and contentment deep in your soul that whatever is happening around you, you know God is in control and you trust him.  Joy is produced by choosing positive thoughts instead of dwelling on the negative thoughts.

It’s also an inner peace and calm deep in the soul that the Holy Spirit gives that can not be produced by this world or its goods.

Joy is a fruit that the Holy Spirit produces. Help us Lord and work on us so that we may have joy no matter what life brings.

The Source of Real Joy

Dear friend, let us get one thing out of the way first and foremost.  True joy, real joy, only comes from Jesus alone.

The first step in choosing true joy is to give your heart and life to Christ and to be forgiven of every sin you have ever committed. That’s the beginning of real joy. 

Let’s go to God’s Word and see what it says about joy.

The Joy Of The Lord Is Your Strength

In Nehemiah 8:10 lets focus on the last part of that verse that says the joy of the Lord is your strength. If you have the joy of the Lord, you will prosper in your relationship with God and others and become strong in Him.

Your joy will shine through to those around you and make a difference in their life. People will want what you have and seek the source of your stregnth.

Joy will also help to keep unity among the church, family members, and friends. It helps keep you spiritually strong.

The Strategy Of The Enemy

Because the joy of the Lord is our strength, the enemy of our soul wants to steal it however he can. He will work overtime to do so.

His strategy is to make you weak, drag you down, and finally discourage you defeating you spiritually. Therefore, you are unable to help anyone else get to Christ. Don’t let the devil steal your joy and your Godly influence.

Looking At The Difference Joy Makes

Have you ever been around someone who has no joy? They are usually moody and hard to deal with, or sad and weepy with nothing going right for them. It’s not easy to be around someone who is always negative and has no joy. On the flip side of that, have you been around someone so full of joy, with a positive outlook, you leave their presence encouraged? I think we get the picture. The bottom line, be the person that makes a positive difference in someones life because you chose joy.

Ways Joy Can Be Stolen

Marriage Issues:

• As young people, we think this will be the source of our joy. Once you’re married you realize, as beautiful as it is, it is still hard work.
  • How to Choose Joy When You don’t Feel it: Don’t allow the conflicts between you and your spouse to steal your joy. Focus on Jesus, He will give perfect peace. Pray together and work conflicts out, never giving up on each other. Choose to think the best of each other and uplift one another.

Mom Life Chaos:

• There will be times when you will feel overwhelmed and exhausted and maybe stressed out with all that goes into taking care of littles. It’s not that you don’t love your kids, but being a mom, especially to several littles close in age, and having all the chaos that goes with it can be very hard. You can easily lose sight of how beautiful life is and the blessings that surround you. I understand, I’ve been there. Mothering littles is a hard season. If the devil can get you focused on the frustrating things and the overwhelming things he can steal your joy.
  • How To Choose Joy When You Don’t Feel It: Recognize the blessings God has given. Take time to make beautiful memories with your kids. Choose to look at the good and take mom breaks if someone offers help. Think on the positive and the cute things and don’t stew over the frustrating things.

Our World Today:

• Our world today is so uncertain. The way the economy is at the moment there are a lot of financial worries that come along with it. If we get focused on either life today as it is or our financial issues, we could lose our joy fast.
  • How To Choose Joy When You Don’t Feel It: PRAY and leave it with Jesus. Certainly, be aware of what’s going on, and be careful financially. But, we also need to remember God’s promise to never leave us nor forsake us and keep focused on him. Lastly, there are things that we can not change in this life, and allowing our focus to be on all the negative will be a joy stealer for sure! The good news is God is still in control!!

Social media:

• Social media sure can steal our joy. If we are not careful we will see “happy people who have the perfect life” and start to get discontented with the life Jesus has given us.
  • How To Choose Joy When You Don’t Feel It: Stay off social media or remember that what God has given each one of us is beautiful. We have many many blessings and need to praise God for the things He has blessed us with and look at the positive. The attitude of gratitude truly does give us a better disposition. 

Personal Example

As I faced some hurt recently, unintentionally I began to think about it far too much, which brought negative thoughts. The more I stewed, the bigger things got and I couldn’t enjoy the simple things of the present moment anymore. My joy was slipping.  God let me know very gently that if I didn’t stop dwelling on the negative, I would become bitter. He told me hurts would come, but let them wash off my shoulders, not to dwell on them. I asked him for help to choose joy even when I didn’t feel it.

Dear friend, I want you to know He helped me in a great way that day. He showed me I could choose joy even in difficult circumstances. If I keep my mind focused on Him and trust Him to take care of the problems and stop thinking on the negative, I will have great joy. Has the difficult circumstances changed? No!! Not at all! Yet, I see them in a whole new light now. I have a whole new perspective because I allowed Jesus to restore my focus which restored my joy. 

Friend, God loves us so much and wants us to have abundant joy. He is the source of that joy and the source of our strength. I’m getting excited as I type this! He is an awesome God who will help you live a more joyful life than you can ever imagine if you will turn your problems over to Him and stay focused on Him. He did it for me, I know He can do it for you! 

My Prayer For You

Jesus help the one reading this to turn to you for joy. Let them see the enemy’s tactics in trying to steal their joy. Moreover, help them to give to you any negative thoughts and feelings they have allowed to take over. Show them how to choose joy even when they don’t feel it. In your name, I pray. Amen

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Your Thoughts

Leave a comment below and let me know your thoughts. I pray this has helped you as it has me.

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