How to experience more joy and peace in your days
A frequent prayer of mine is that I will function from a place of peace and joy, not of stress and overwhelm. Do you struggle with that, too?
I know I have the fullness of God’s joy and peace at all times, but I don’t always live like I do. Life and circumstances aren’t often throwing peace my way. The to-do list is endless, someone almost always needs me, and there doesn’t seem to be enough time in my days for it all. Can you relate?
The reality of those circumstances isn’t likely to change. So how do we experience peace and joy in the midst of that and not just stay constantly stressed and overwhelmed?
Jesus.
It’s the stereotypical church answer, but it’s also the truth!
Because of Jesus, we have a brand new identity: child of God. Remembering who I am in the midst of the trials of my day is vital. Because often the narrative in my brain goes something like this:
you need to do better, you‘re being a terrible mom/wife/friend/homemaker/person, you’re not good enough, you’re not enough.
But the most true thing about me is that I am God’s kid. And truth is the greatest weapon we have against the lies of this world, the flesh, and the enemy.
If we aren’t sure of who we really are, it’s easy to fall into the trap of comparison. “Comparison is the thief of joy” is a quote we hear often, because it’s so true. If we are spending our days scrolling through social media, it’s easy to start holding up our lives in contrast to a stranger on the internet. I’m so guilty of this! Or if we are unsure of who we are, basing our identity on what we do instead of what God has said, then we will feel less than or not as good as the women in our church, the coffee shop, our circle of friends, etc. etc.
If we can come into our days remembering who we are - children of God, if you are in Christ - and not base our worth on anything else, the natural outcome is walking in more peace and joy! Because everything else can be brushed off instead of soaked in.
If we go spend time in God’s creation instead of filling every gap of time with man made devices, our souls and bodies will be met with rest.
If we take our eyes off of our circumstances and how we either hate them or are trying to control them, and instead bring them to Jesus, He will meet us there.
He has already given you His perfect peace and the fullness of joy. Remember that. Trust Him for it. Turn your eyes on Him, renewing your mind with truth, and see how it changes your perspective and shifts the course of your day.