August 15, 2026
How to Live A Joyful Life
Joy is a choice. Sometimes it can be elusive. When that happens, you have to change your focus. Just because life behaves like life and things get rough, you don’t have to surrender your joy. We have had a couple difficult weeks in my world. After my post yesterday I realized I needed a “focus fix.” When I am tempted to wallow in self-pity or obsess over a ridiculous first world problem, I pray for the suffering in the world. War. Hunger. Oppression. People in bondage. My life, on the whole, must look pretty wonderful to a huge percentage of the global community.
I have friends, freedom, and fulfilled needs. I am able to reach out to others in prayer and to offer finances and gifts when needed. I am blessed. Once I re-center my thinking, I find my joy. Hopefully I will one day learn to live like the Apostle Paul and be content no matter what circumstances I experience.
This includes offenses. I am learning there is no comment (or insult) worth losing peace. No one intends to upset us. At least not those closely implanted in our lives. If we love others truly, we will have to view them as the Father views them. Fallible. In training. Beloved. The greatest freedom comes when we learn to never hold a grudge.
It’s human to feel sorry for ourselves or think God loves others more than He loves us. But look around. Countless people are suffering. Wildfires, earthquakes, homelessness, cancer, poverty and starvation. Wars. Increased violence to strangers. There is a frightening move where judges favor perpetrators over victims. Common sense and history testify that cultures need law and order to survive.
We need to count our blessings more aggressively. Reach out and love others. Offer comfort when we can. Choose joy. Lots of things can go awry in our hopes and plans. Recognize that flat tires and lay-offs are facts of life. When trouble comes, think about a sunny day. For me, I listen for my chickens to cluck and the bees to buzz. Suddenly, I am lost in gratitude that God is still on His throne.
Dear Lord, Here I am again, struggling to overcome the effects brought on by the world’s attitudes about life being fair. Your Word tells us to turn the other cheek. To love our enemies. Cruelty is hard to watch. Let us remember, forgiveness is required. Help us, Lord, to demand strong laws, honest and righteous judges and a system that exudes mercy but requires honest scales and reasonable laws. If need be, Lord, lead Your people to run for public office. Let us choose joy while endeavoring to create a culture of morality.
For his anger lasts only a moment, but his favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning. Psalm 30:5