When Your Joy Is Upside Down (An Encouraging Word)
“Mom, what does O-Y-J spell?” asked my young kids one December with a twinkle in their eyes, indicating they knew something I did not. Squealing with delight while ushering me to our bathroom, I quickly saw what caused their giddiness: the wooden letters I had placed on the sink to spell the word “J-O-Y” had been rearranged. Joining in on their laughter, I returned the letters to their proper spelling. What began as a one-time joke has, over the years, become an unexpected Christmas tradition. Countless times in a single day I have returned these letters to spell J-O-Y after any one of my four kids have rearranged their order or stood them upside down. The more creative they get, the more fun it’s become.
Each time I’ve put these little wooden decorations back in their proper order, it’s served as a reminder to my own heart: how is my joy? Is my heart “out of order?” In the busyness of Christmas, am I more stressed than I am joyful? Am I more focused on the cause of the celebration and the reason for the season - who Christ is and what He has done for me - or what I have yet to do, buy, or bake?
If your joy feels upside down or out of order this Christmas, you’re not alone. While it’s not as easy as simply rearranging some letters or turning them rightside up again, there is One who can help. In fact He is able to “rearrange” our hearts and turn them rightside up. He can turn our mourning into dancing and clothe us with joy (see Psalm 30:11) regardless of our circumstances.
If you want the days that remain between now and Christmas to be filled with true joy, I pray you will be encouraged by the following verses. They are a reminder that joy can be found regardless of what is in front of us, because He is its Source. Let’s allow Him to put our hearts in proper order, shall we? As much delight as it brings me to enter into my kids’ shenanigans, we know it brings Him even greater delight to be invited to deal with the issues of our hearts. Just as the psalmist declared “You have put gladness in my heart” (Psalm 4:7 NKJV), won’t He do it for you and me?
-Joy is found in His salvation: “Restore to me the joy of Your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.” (Psalm 51:12)
-Joy is found in His Word: “Your statutes are my heritage forever; they are the joy of my heart.” (Psalm 119:111)
-Joy is found in His presence: “You make known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.” (Psalm 16:11)
-Joy is found through trusting in Him: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as You trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13)
-Joy is found in imitating Jesus as we focus on and serve others (Remember the old acronym for “joy” - Jesus, Others, You? Who can you visit or reach out to, especially at this time of year?): “Looking to Jesus… who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross…” (Hebrews 12:2)
When our hearts are heavy due to a less than picture perfect Christmas, we can still be women of joy – His joy. From the list above, what can you choose to find joy in today as you wait upon Him to rearrange your heart?
With much love,
Cara Blondo
On behalf of the CCOB Women’s Ministry
(As first appeared in Girl, Read Your Bible)