joy /joi/

noun

a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.

If you know me, you know I don't have a spontaneous bone in my body. So when I decided to do something fun and last minute and sort of ridiculous today it was worth it. Life is really hard and I don't think that comes as a surprise to any of us, but it is also full of small moments that are filled with pure joy.

The moment of pure joy when I got to see my friends for the first time last June after three months of lockdown. The moment of pure joy when my nephew laughed his first laugh, when he took his first steps. Being called Auntie for the first time. The joy of seeing my favorite band live and screaming their songs at the top of my lungs.

Today I experienced another moment of pure joy that I was really nervous about. I drove 2 hours to meet an artist I love ( https://www.instagram.com/kaitlynrose.artist/ ) and I bought one of her original paintings. The last two years have been filled with a lot of sorrow for me but when I stumbled on this artist her zeal for life, her joy, her rawness and vulnerability spoke to me. She lives boldly for Christ and her love for Him is evident in every piece of art. I've messaged with her a few times on social media and today I felt like a little bit of psycho driving all that way to meet her, but it was so worth it. Meeting a person who has brought me so much hope was surreal and so amazing. Every time I look at her art, which now hangs on my wall, I know I'll feel that same joy. When I look at the piece I see the story behind it, titled;

"Search me, Know me, Test me, Lead me, Oh Lord, Oh Lord"

This piece that stares back at me isn't just a beautiful canvas. It is a tangible reminder of who God is. It reminds me that He knows me, He leads me, and although I go through trials and tests, He carries me through.

Psalm 139:1

O LORD, you have searched me and known me!

The purest joy I have in my life is through my relationship with God. Walking through the day with the Holy Spirit by my side and Christ leading me on my path to eternity is an unspeakable, incomparable joy. Every once in awhile a small moment brings that joy to the surface in a unique way. These little moments are God reminding me of who He is, what He has done, and what He will do in my life.

2 Corinthians 9:15

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Joy, something that is found in the darkest of times. The end of 2021 is nearly upon us and once again this year has been nothing like I thought it would be. God is constantly guiding me and testing me and pushing me towards Him. There is one constant in my life and it is the One who gives me breath, who gave me a new life in Him. Learning to find joy and contentment in all circumstances is a challenge, but it is a worthwhile one.

So, I challenge you to look at your life and find the moments of pure joy. And if you don't have the constant joy of a personal relationship with the Savior, than I encourage you to dive into the Gospel of John and repent. Permanent joy can be found only in Him.

Happy almost Christmas!

ais

p.s. The featured picture and the art seen here belong in their entirety to Kaitlyn Rose :)