More Joy

I've been thinking a lot this week about how we can find more joy. The Bible clearly states that joy comes from God and, by implication, not from ourselves. But I don't think the answer is to sit and wait for joy to magically be bestowed upon us. If we have the Spirit in our lives, and all Christians do, we have access to abounding joy. God desires for us to have this joy all the time. So, what can we do, practically speaking, to access that joy and begin experiencing it in daily life?

I think one of the answers is to simplify our lives. Unpack a bit and slow down a little. When we take our time, we can better see the little things through which God brings us joy. For example, I often rush through portions of my day with the kids. When I do that, I can miss little moments with them, like when Kate smiles at me and just sits there. Or when Will says "psst" to me, waits for me to come close, then whispers "I love you Mommy" in my ear. When I am in a hurry, I can easily get irritated with these "stalls" and anxious for the kids to just get moving. But when I stop, slow down, and just listen, it brings such joy to my heart to experience my kids in this way!

The same can be said for other things, not just moments with our kids. Like nature, or just a moment of quiet by ourselves with the Lord, or something as simple as a really good meal. Think about some things that make your life more hectic and that might be keeping you from experiencing joy in the little things. When we are intentional about slowing down and noticing all the little things in our lives, I believe it becomes easier to see and experience the peace and joy that God has already placed in our lives but that goes unnoticed a lot of the time.