Lately, I’ve talked with many who are fighting to keep their joy. Anxiety and a sense of heaviness seem to be hanging in the air. Some are exhausted from emergencies, some are worried about the future, some are just feeling anxious as they watch world events unfold. Where is joy in the midst of the heaviness? Is it possible, or is it simply an elusive dream?
As I’ve been thinking through those questions and researching the whole concept of joy, I have been reminded that joy is a relational skill. In other words, the strength of your connections will determine the level of your joy.
There will be seasons of emergencies, uncertainty, and even grief. Those will never entirely disappear. However, joy is still possible depending on how deeply connected to God we feel and how deeply connected to others we feel. The bottom line is that God wired us to connect. Even when life is falling apart, we need people with whom we can be vulnerable. We are to ,in the words of the Apostle Paul, “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2).
If you’re in a heavy-hearted season, here are three tips that will help you to return to joy:
Mind the Gap in Your Thinking. Often there is a gap between reality and how we wish life was going. We have thousands of thoughts per minute. It’s easy when life is unraveling to allow our thoughts to go to all the “what ifs.” Instead, mind the gap in your thinking. Like the Apostle Paul wrote, we must take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5). Rather than going to all the negative possibilities, redirect your thoughts to what’s true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable….think on these things (Philippians 4:8).
Make Jesus Your Obsession. Many are obsessed with the upcoming election. Some are obsessed with the recent natural disasters or with the wars overseas. If you want to return to joy, obsess about Jesus. Direct your thoughts towards Him. Get your praise on. Rather than watching the news for an hour or two every day, give that time to worshiping the Lord Jesus Christ. Watch what happens as you spend more time worshiping Him. I guarantee you’ll become more like Him. If you’re looking for a good place to start, begin with Psalm 145, “I will exalt you my God the King!” Take the Psalm, read it out loud, write portions out, and pray it in regards to all that is going on in our world. You’ll be closer to an attitude of joy immediately.
Move Towards Friends, Rather than Away From Them. Often when people are having a hard time with anxiety or depression, they build walls around their hearts and move away from friends. This is a mistake. Scripture calls us to carry each other’s burdens, and that means we have to dare to be authentic. We must move towards people rather than isolating. Remember, Paul wrote that we are to carry one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2). Friends can’t help you carry your burdens unless you dare to be vulnerable and move towards them rather than away from them.
If you are in a season of heaviness, may I encourage you? Mind the gap in your thinking, make Jesus your obsession, and move towards friends instead of pulling away. Joy is possible, even when life is difficult.
For more on deepening your connections and finding joy don’t forget to order a copy of Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World. Why not order a few copies and go through the book with 2-3 friends? Your friendships will grow closer, and you’ll feel less lonely.
Pick up a copy of Becky’s latest book Cultivating Deeper Connections in a Lonely World here.
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