Choosing Joy

Joy is what makes life worth living, but for many joy seems hard to find. They complain that their lives are sorrowful and depressing. What then brings the joy we so much desire? Are some people just lucky, while others have run out of luck? Strange as it may sound, we can choose joy. Two people can be part of the same event, but one may choose to live it quite differently from the other. One may choose to trust that what happened, painful as it may be, holds a promise. The other may choose despair and be destroyed by it. What makes us human is precisely this freedom of choice.” —Henri J. M. Nouwen, Bread for the Journey

Joy isn’t always the result of perfect circumstances—it’s often the product of a heart that’s anchored in something deeper than the moment. Two people can walk through the same trial, sit in the same room, or face the same loss, yet one may crumble under the weight while the other finds strength through quiet trust in God. The difference isn't always in what happens, but in how it's received. Philippians 4:4 calls us to “Rejoice in the Lord always.” It’s a command that assumes joy is a choice we can make, even when life doesn’t make it easy. This kind of joy doesn’t ignore pain or pretend everything is fine—it acknowledges the difficulty but chooses to look for God in the midst of it. It’s a joy that comes from knowing He is present, that His promises still stand, and that our story isn’t over. When we choose joy, we’re choosing to believe that God’s goodness can still be found, even here, even now. Choose joy! —DH