How to Reclaim the Joy Jesus Intends For Us
“Wanna come fishing with us, Grami?” asked my grandson, Deacon, as I sat on the veranda enjoying my book, coffee, and the cool morning quiet of the surrounding mountains. He was up early.
I’m not a fan of fishing, but I am a fan of my grandkids. Laying aside my book, I followed Deacon and his sister Eden to the dock where their dad stood baiting the fishing lines. I sat in a lawn chair next to my daughter to watch the activity. Her family was vacationing in the north Georgia Mountains near my home and had asked me to join them.
It wasn’t long before the sounds of excitement signaled someone had a bite. Surprised, I saw it was Eden who is usually more reserved than her brother. She didn’t rival Deacon’s noisiness, but the amazement and joy on her face was something to behold.
Her first catch! A live wiggly fish dangled on the end of Eden’s line. As I looked into her face, I caught the excitement and clapped in delight. I was taken back to my childhood summers when each day unveiled new and wondrous discoveries to be made.
And I had to wonder: When do we stop looking at each day with anything less than great expectation? Why do we resist getting animated about life? Maybe the peer-pressured years of our teens change us. Maybe we hide our emotions because the world tells us we’re unsophisticated for believing there’s anything new under the sun. Maybe we let the disappointments and troubles we encounter rob us of hope?
When we let boredom or cynicism become our default mode, we aren’t experiencing life abundantly as Jesus intends. Consider what Jesus says in Matthew 19:14:
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
Jesus wants all his children, young and old, to enjoy life. And when we don’t hold back, we serve as witnesses for Him and the abundant life He came to give (John 10:10).
Joy is a response to God’s gifts and to who we are in Him. It’s not difficult to find and express joy. We start by remembering each new day is from God. We express gratitude for this gift. We open our eyes to see the wonders all around us. And just like children, we celebrate.
“This is the day that the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” Psalm 118:24.
Thank you, Lord, for this day you have made. Make my eyes and heart like those of little children. Help me see the many reasons I have to rejoice and be glad. And remind me not to hide my joy because, by sharing it with others, I am showing them You. Amen.
What do you have to celebrate today?
What a wonderful post. Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could recapture what it feels like to see the world as a child? One of the greatest things about spending time with children is watching the pure joy they experience in discovering something new. When did we stop looking for the wonder in this world and start expecting disappointment?
We have a lot to learn from the children around us. Thanks, Joshua!
Every day is a blessing, but sometimes we are so caught up in the rush that we forget to observe the beauty around us and the gifts that God shares with us daily. The most special of those gifts, I think, is our children and grandchildren. Thanks for sharing your joy and brightening our day.
Thank you, Katherine. I think our grandchildren take us back to the place from which God likes us to experience His world.
Yes ma’am; the world can certainly our joy, if we let it. I think this is why it’s so important to set aside time to just be with God and let Him refill and re-energize our lives. Isn’t it amazing how God refers to us as His children; and it’s when we are “little children” that He can fill us to overflowing with His joy. God’s blessings Ms. Candyce.
We can learn lots from children about faith, trust, and love, along with living life fully. I agree we have to spend time seeking our heavenly Father every day to fully realize his abundant blessings!