“God, please give me more joy. I’m going through a hard time. Your Word tells us to rejoice in difficult times because they mature us. But I’m tired of challenges! I don’t care about maturity right now. I just want to feel some joy and happiness! I want to rejoice. I want to follow Your blueprint. But I’m so tired!”
Soon afterwards, I was reading in Genesis 1 about how God spoke and created everything. “…God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) God uses words to speak things into being. Romans 4:17 tells us “… God… calls into existence… things that do not exist.” He speaks and things happen!
We are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26-27). Proverbs 18:21 tells us that life and death are in the power of our tongue. And Galatians 6:7 says we reap what we sow. So I realized that to feel more joy, I needed to speak more joy.
But if you’re not feeling joyful, how do you speak joy?
The kingdom of God has been described as an “upside down” kingdom, meaning it doesn’t function the way the world does or the way one might think it does. For example, if you lack something, it makes sense to hold tightly to what little you have. In God’s kingdom, if you need more, you give and through giving, you receive more. “Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.” (Luke 6:38)
If I lack joy, how am I able to give it? If I need money, how do I have enough to give any away? In 2 Peter 1:3 we’re told that Christ has given us everything we need for life and godliness. And Philippians 4:19 assures us that God will meet all our needs. I have seen and experienced God’s supernatural provision many times! But what if these verses mean more than that?
In most places in the world, people don’t sow half-grown plants like I’m imagining; they sow seeds. Could it be that some of what God has given us is in seed form? If God has given me seeds of joy and I find places to sow them, would I find more joy? What if it’s not about finding something large and already developed but looking for seeds God has already given and sowing and nurturing those little seeds? Perhaps even small things like smiling at a stranger might grow into the joy I’m longing for.
Question:
- Is there something that He’s given you in seed form, maybe something you discount, that can bring you more of what you’re looking for?
- What seed is within your grasp that you can start sowing? It doesn’t need to be an already developed plant; a tiny seed may be sufficient!
“…if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” (Matthew 17:20)
~ Deborah S. Bodnar
~ photo by Mojpe on Pixabay
