“Doh!” moments in the "Ya, buts" of Joy!

My mind wandered as I was sitting on my bed preparing to read my evening devotional. I thought about how I’m not in touch with either of my ‘daughters’ very regularly anymore. I miss them. 

Throughout my 20's I lived with someone but I’ve never married. And while I’ve not borne any children there are  two great young women to whom I am Mother.  So last night I was about to let the sadness of this change with my daughters get me down. I was hearing myself say, “YA, BUT how can I be joyful when they’re both living so far away and communication has become so irregular?” 

In my mind I immediately  heard, “My joy is not in my circumstances; my joy is in Him.” Clear as a bell.

Doh! I know this! 

I’ve heard variations of this so many times that it’s become cliché. But something about this time felt different. I think it finally sunk in. 

I’ve known this but I didn’t KNOW this! 

As you may remember, my One Word for 2014 is JOY ! I am asking the LORD to help me find joy in those areas where I have difficulty seeing Him. So, yes, I’ve known this but this time it resonated! 

“In His presence there is fullness of joy.” (Psalm 16:11)

My joy is not in my circumstances; my joy is in Him. 

Right after I heard this statement in my mind, I was looking up the Scriptures related to my devotional when my eyes landed on Isaiah 54:1: 

"Sing, barren woman, you who never bore a child;

burst into song, shout for joy, you who were never in labor;

because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,"

says the LORD.

“Burst into song!! Shout for joy!!” He says.

Further on this chapter in verse 4 it goes on to say: 

"Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame.

Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.

You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

I’m not a widow obviously but I’m going to count being unmarried here if I may. 

I don’t particularly feel any shame about not being married. Nor do I feel shame about not having borne children. I more so can tend to feel shame about how I am pigeon holed by others because of this. I can sometimes feel shame about being marginalized and pushed aside as a single woman.

God’s word says I will not be put to shame. This is one part of what my journey in learning joy is about this year. It’s about learning to see Him more fully in this scenario. It's about learning to find joy in Him regardless of how others view me in my singleness.

Verse 5 says:

For your Maker is your husband-- the LORD Almighty is his name—

the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.

 My joy is not in circumstances; my joy is in my Husband.

I still miss my daughters. And my circumstances will continue to change for the rest of  my life. If I base my joy on them I’ll be on a roller coaster ride. But if my joy is in the LORD then I will walk on a more level path. I’m getting better at it. I’m catching myself more quickly when I go to the "ya, buts".

My joy is not in circumstances; my joy is in Him. 

P.S.  I don’t know how God speaks to you, but I have a sneaking suspicion that that clear voice I heard in my mind that night was the Holy Spirit giving me my catch phrase for 2014. 

Daring Adventure or Nothing...

I got up out of bed the other night when I was feeling the loneliness of living as a single in a "Noah’s Ark two-by-two" world. I tried to think of people that I know who are single and living out their lives in a purposeful way. I don’t know much about Luci Swindoll but I do know that she is single so I did a search for quotes by her. I’d seen at some point that she wrote a book called “I Married Adventure”. In the early morning hours I found some motivating quotes by her and was encouraged.

People have called me adventurous over the years. Then at the age of 50 my life was suddenly rerouted for a few years due to a health crisis...seriously, don't drink the water in Mexico ;)...and my dreams were seemingly shattered as a result. Even though I'm now back to good health, I’ve been uncertain about whether I will still have the energy to be adventurous. I’d become a little reluctant and hesitant to dream again, resigned to living an ‘ordinary’ life.

I’m not sure yet what the new dream...the new adventure...is, but that night after reading Luci’s quotes I got up and went to a local church that I don’t normally attend. Guess what the pastor was speaking about? Yup!! “Choosing to live an adventurous Christian life.” I think there's a message there for me loud and clear! As I learn to dream again, I am finding little day to day ways to be adventurous.
And I'm filled with a sense of quiet expectation and anticipation.

Helen Keller stated that "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."