Searching for Joy in Everyday Life
Last year my family and I went to Florida for our summer vacation. Being a native Floridian, I know several out-of-the-way places to enjoy, places off the beaten tourists’ path.
My family and I took a day and went to one such place, a clear, cool swimming hole. As I think back on our fun, I recall how I splashed around with my kids sometimes scooping up handfuls of water to toss at them, then giving up and letting the water trickle through my fingers. As I watched the droplets fall back into their emerald abode, I found myself thinking this is reminiscent of life. Sometimes joy falls upon us like rain, other times, joy trickles upon us in small measure. But all too often, especially in this cruel world of sin and sorrow, joy seems altogether absent from life.
Life is often difficult, and we find ourselves bogged down in the mire of daily existence. But God grants daily moments of joy. He longs to remind us that even though life is difficult, He walks beside us through each day. God smiles in the flower petals that dance in the breeze and brighten our gardens, He sings in the laughter of our children, and speaks through the phone call from a long-lost friend. If only we can remember that in all things we ought to praise God, for He’s with us. He’ll never leave us or forsake us.
When I’m having a difficult day, I try and remember to search for those tiny droplets of joy God sends me. They are there, somewhere in everyday life.
What are some of the small joys God drops into your everyday life?
What are some of the small joys God drops into your everyday life?
Blessings,Author of the Called to His Purpose series
Writing is my ministry, not my job
Bible Text:
Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. (Psalm 51:12, KJV)
Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me. (Psalm 51:12, NIV)
Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5,
New International Version (NIV)
Christian Writers Monthly Blog Chain List (CWBC) for April. Enjoy reading my friends’ posts.
4/1: Chris Henderson, TheWriteChris
4/1: Brian Jones, Andeluvia
4/2: Debra Ann Elliott, Words are Timeless
4/3: CH Dyer, Thoughts and Visions
4/4: Steve Olar, Snickerdoodles
4/5: Lynn Mosher, Heading Home
4/6: Bill Jones, I Was Thinking the Other Day About
4/7: Cindee Snider Re, Breathe Deeply
4/8: Terrie Thorpe, Light for the Journey
4/9: Adam Collings, The Collings Zone
4/10: Keith Wallis, wordsculptures
4/11: Victor Travison, Lightwalker's View
4/12: Pegg Thomas, The Sheepish Scribe
4/13: Nona King, Spirit Driven Fiction
4/14: Scott Fields, Dead Man Writing
4/15: Pauline Creeden, Hosanna's Christian Reader
4/16: Kristena Tunstall, Mommy’s Angel In Heaven
4/17: Mike Johnson, The College Field Manual
4/18: Carol Peterson, From Carol's Quill
4/19: Chris Vonada, I'm Just Thinkin'
4/20: Edward Lewis, Sowing the Seeds
4/21: Deborah K. Anderson, Faith, Fiction, and Unvarnished Truth
4/23: Nona King, Word Obsession
4/24: SandiGrace, Heart Gazer
4/25: SandyKC, The Everyday Christian
4/26: Tracy Krauss, Expression Express
4/27: Traci Bonney, Tracings
4/28: Jacky Brown, JayBees Blog
4/29: Stephanie Boles, 80 Acres and a Book
4/30: Joseph Lalonde, Joseph Lalonde
4/2: Debra Ann Elliott, Words are Timeless
4/3: CH Dyer, Thoughts and Visions
4/4: Steve Olar, Snickerdoodles
4/5: Lynn Mosher, Heading Home
4/6: Bill Jones, I Was Thinking the Other Day About
4/7: Cindee Snider Re, Breathe Deeply
4/8: Terrie Thorpe, Light for the Journey
4/9: Adam Collings, The Collings Zone
4/10: Keith Wallis, wordsculptures
4/11: Victor Travison, Lightwalker's View
4/12: Pegg Thomas, The Sheepish Scribe
4/13: Nona King, Spirit Driven Fiction
4/14: Scott Fields, Dead Man Writing
4/15: Pauline Creeden, Hosanna's Christian Reader
4/16: Kristena Tunstall, Mommy’s Angel In Heaven
4/17: Mike Johnson, The College Field Manual
4/18: Carol Peterson, From Carol's Quill
4/19: Chris Vonada, I'm Just Thinkin'
4/20: Edward Lewis, Sowing the Seeds
4/21: Deborah K. Anderson, Faith, Fiction, and Unvarnished Truth
4/23: Nona King, Word Obsession
4/24: SandiGrace, Heart Gazer
4/25: SandyKC, The Everyday Christian
4/26: Tracy Krauss, Expression Express
4/27: Traci Bonney, Tracings
4/28: Jacky Brown, JayBees Blog
4/29: Stephanie Boles, 80 Acres and a Book
4/30: Joseph Lalonde, Joseph Lalonde
Beautiful Stephanie - finding those moments of God's presence makes each day joyful. He is there - ever-present - loving us, leading us, encouraging us along the right path. Peace and Blessings!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful!
ReplyDeleteStephanie. I usually like the NIV more but I really like the KJV Version of Psalm 51. I love the concept of being upheld by God.
ReplyDeleteYou went to Florida in the SUMMER? Wow. You must love the heat! This northern gal would die down there in the summer months. God does grant moments of joy. Even in the heat. ;)
ReplyDeleteExcellent analogy. I love the thought of God's joy coming like droplets. sometimes its a downpour, sometimes we're immersed in it and sometimes its just a gentle mist.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the Psalm 51 verse. Thank you
ReplyDeletedroplets everywhere too many to count
ReplyDeletebiiiiiiiiiiiig hug
Nice Scripture choices! Good analogy using water drops for joy. We need to remember the joy God has already given to us. Sometimes I think He means for today's downpour to sustain us during tomorrow's dryness. If only we would carry the refreshing times with us...
ReplyDeleteFun post.And here Thomas Wolfe told us we can't go home again.
ReplyDeletePeace and Blessings
Oh, I so loved the phrase "tiny droplets of joy God sends me." Perfectly said.
ReplyDeleteLovely post, Stephanie.
So true..."Life is often difficult, and we find ourselves bogged down in the mire of daily existence. But God grants daily moments of joy."
ReplyDeleteSometimes it's just those simple joys that keep us going
Thank you, all for sharing your thoughts as well. You underscored my thoughts about the joy God grants us.
ReplyDeleteDroplets of joy - as I sit here reading and listening to the rain outside, I imagine being soaked in joy droplets. Thanks for a wonderful image. :)
ReplyDelete