Locations & Times

Throughout my life I watched opportunities pass by, relationships mend and flourish, babies born, and dreams come alive. Yet for some reason, these all felt out of reach for me. 

After a while, I stopped rejoicing and became jaded. Anxiety and greed set in. This happened because my focus slowly shifted to the wrong things. It was easy to focus on the things I didn’t have, or things I thought I should have had “by now.” 

Here’s a fun little fact: It takes just three seconds for a negative memory to imprint on the brain, but fourteen seconds for a positive one to do so. I’m not going to get into all the hard science behind this, but I do think it’s important to note that it takes longer for our brains to remember the positive.

God knows this. He recognizes that we will have pain and suffering, but He also gives us instructions on what to do when troubles come our way. James 1:2 says “consider it pure joy … whenever you face trials of many kinds.” 

God also recognizes that we will have affliction, so Romans 12:12 says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” He knows that our minds will stray into unhealthy thoughts, so He urges us in Colossians 3:2: “Set your minds on things above and not on earthly things.” 

When we are afflicted and when all we can see is earthly pain, remember Paul tells us what to think about—things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, or praiseworthy (Philippians 4:8). 

It is inevitable that we will see people hitting their goals while we fight a disease. We will see grand houses being built while we are hoping to pay the rent. Other couples will happily renew their vows or have babies while we slog through a season of barely staying together with our spouse. 

How can we be joyful when we don’t have those things? 

There’s a saying: “Comparison is the thief of joy.” I believe that’s true. 

And this is also true: our relationship to joy isn’t passive, it’s active. It’s something we choose, a deliberate decision. The Bible tells us to rejoice in the Lord always. To be strong in the Lord and the power of his might, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

So this Christmas I challenge you to be purposeful in your relationships, specifically with God. Be active and focus on the things above. Your relationship status, the number in the bank account, or what kind of appointments are on the calendar are no match for our God. He can overcome these things. Remember, He defeated the grave.

Jesus left heaven and came to this earth in a manger, for you. He left heaven to walk this earth to show us it can be done. It won’t be easy, but whenever you feel life starting to steal your joy, you are not alone. Jesus is in the battle with you. Better yet, He has gone before you. He will make your crooked paths straight and He promises that he will never leave nor forsake you. 

Choose to be joyful.