When you begin to probe your life for areas that need change or improvement, there is one very troubling side effect; it is very easy to get down, depressed, and frustrated with yourself. We are creatures of habit and change is hard. It is hard to realize that we don't have it all figured out. It is discouraging to discover that we have so far to go. It is exhausting to think of the work that lies ahead.
As I have tackled many issues in my life and moved toward a positive life change, I have struggled with these feelings frequently. However, I have discovered that when I allow the joy of the Lord to supersede these feelings and I allow Him to be my strength, it is much easier to get through it. The journey is much easier to tackle with that joy giving me the turbo boost of strength that I need.
An interesting side effect of allowing the joy of the Lord to be your strength, suddenly I find that I deal much less with fear. If the Lord is for me, who can be against me? If my trust is in the Lord, whom shall I fear?
I know that this post is full of many of the cliches that you and I have heard all of our lives and you might be tempted to scoff at them (I would be) but I have found that there is powerful truth in each one of these statements. They come from God and therefore they are true.
Try opening yourself up to joy for a change. When you are struggling, let joy in. When you are doubting or self-critical, let joy in. The power of joy to change your life is astounding. It doesn't matter what you are facing, what challenges you are going through, joy can be the balm to heal those wounds so give it a try. What do you have to lose?
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Keep up the good work. We are out here.
ReplyDeleteWell said. You have my vote. Keep up the writing.
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